10 Best Cleansing Balms 2022 | UK Makeup Artist Reviewed

As a professional makeup artist of ten years, Marie's job has taken her all over the UK, working at top events, on TV shows and making up beautiful brides. For all of her clients, she loves emphasising their natural beauty by creating a flawless base that still looks like skin.

Find out more about Marie and what are her favourite makeup products are through her Instagram! She even shares some industry tips on makeup application too. And if you're interested in getting your makeup done by Marie, you can contact her via her email found at the top of her page.

Until recently, we've relied on cleansing creams, gels, milks, and even disposable wipes when it comes to removing makeup and daily grime from our faces and necks. Though over the last few years, cleansing balms have become incredibly popular. Eve Lom is one of the trailblazers of this cleansing balm craze and many beauty brands have followed suit with their own offerings.

Cleansing balms usually have a solid consistency and come in a tube, stick, or jar. Once warmed between fingertips, these clever oil-based cleansers transform into a rich, dense balm that can be massaged easily into dry skin. The oils efficiently cut through makeup and can even remove waterproof mascara! To remove the balm, simply rub your face gently with a warm, damp flannel then pat your skin dry with a towel.

Why use a balm? Well, a little goes a long way, meaning that even expensive balms are actually excellent value for money. The oils not only cut through grime, but they nourish and hydrate your face at the same time too - this makes them suitable for most skin types. Using a balm with a reusable cloth is also a much more environmentally-friendly option than wipes, so ditch the disposables ASAP!

1. UpCircle - Cleansing Face Balm for £12.66
2. Neal's Yard Remedies - Wild Rose Beauty Balm for £40.00 
3. Lulu and Boo - Organic Chamomile Cleansing Balm for £26.35
4. Diptyque - Nourishing Cleansing Balm for £89.99
5. Boots - Glow Cleansing Stick for £4.00

For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of cleansing balms available and understand how our ranking was determined.

This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.

1. Consider Your Skin Type And Pick A Product Designed For It Or A Certain Skin Issue
2. Think About Ingredients Whilst Also Selecting A Combination of Oils and Waxes 
3. Look Out For Key Ingredients Like Cacao Butter And Apricot Powder
4. Opt For A Balm With Organic Ingredients 

Cleansing balms suit all skin types as they're designed to break down make-up, rather than cleanse clean skin. When choosing the right balm, consider how much make-up you need to remove as well as the condition of your skin.

Those with oily skin may feel the urge to cut through the grease with a foaming formula, but these often end up encouraging more sebum production and can leave other areas of skin feeling tight. Contrary to what you might think, balms work just as well on oily skin as they do on dry, dehydrated faces. In fact, oil attracts oil, meaning that this kind of product will really benefit a greasy complexion.

Among our picks are products designed specifically for targeted skin issues, such as ageing, redness, or sensitivity. If you don't have any problem areas though, you'll be glad to know that all of our recommendations are rich in skin-supporting nutrients that'll leave your face feeling silky smooth!

We tend to think of oil as a tool for moisturising skin but it's also exceptionally effective at breaking down dirt, sweat, makeup, and layers of SPF that can clog pores if left on the skin overnight. Wax is another ingredient often included in balm cleansers that works in a very similar way to oil. Plus, it thickens the formula, making it wonderfully creamy.

Since there's a huge range of base ingredients to choose from, let's run through our favourites! First up, fruit and plant oils - olive, eucalyptus, sea buckthorn, oat kernel, and hemp are high in fatty acids which will plump and rejuvenate skin. Seed and nut oils have higher quantities of fatty acids still - look for coconut, almond, macadamia, safflower seed, and sesame in the ingredients list for optimum hydration. Beeswax is also super moisturising but is unfortunately not suitable for vegans.

Some oils provide a sophisticated fragrance too, so keep your eyes peeled for clove, chamomile, geranium, and rosemary if you enjoy inhaling a heady scent as you cleanse your skin. Wax made from mimosa, rose flower, ylang-ylang, and candelilla also packs a fabulously fragrant punch.

Alongside oils and waxes and oils, you'll find an array of other helpful ingredients in a good cleansing balm. Some contain vitamin E, an amazing antioxidant that improves skin regeneration. Similarly, padina pavonica (a type of seaweed) boosts collagen and is great for slowing down the ageing process. 

If your primary goal is a soft complexion, consider a cleansing balm containing shea or cacao butter, as well as skin-replenishing emollients such as almond glycerides or capric triglyceride. Jojoba extract is another brilliant ingredient that prevents moisture loss, leaving you with silky skin.

Those with flaky skin will reap the benefits of apricot powder which has a gentle exfoliating effect, while colloidal oatmeal reduces sensitivity and redness. Each ingredient mentioned here is totally natural too, which is always a bonus!

To give your skin the best possible treatment, we recommend opting for a cleansing balm containing only organic ingredients. This means they'll have been grown entirely without the use of chemical fertilisers or genetic modification. 

By choosing an organically produced cleansing balm, you can avoid skin irritation - this is often caused by the needless nasties included in the regular farming process. You can also skip the longer-term harm that's believed to be caused to the human body by chemical residues.

Organic skincare, including cleansing balms, are often a higher price investment as the ingredients take longer to grow and create naturally. This is the best choice for sensitive skin or allergy sufferers, as the natural product is more likely to work in harmony with your body.

This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.

Just like any skincare product, cleansing balms do have the potential to clog pores. Therefore, it is important to look at the ingredients list and make sure that the balm you are wanting to use not only includes essential oils but cleansing ingredients as well. 

Yes they do. They help to exfoliate the skin in a way which is gentle yet effective. 

• Explore our categories and 1700+ articles

• Follow us to keep up to date with our product showcases!

Written and researched by Annie Hopkins