Top rated cleansing balms: which should you choose?

Original or charcoal cleansing balm?

Both jars cost $44 in these sizes, so the word charcoal is not charging an admission fee.12

Choose the original for waterproof makeup and a fragrance free formula

The original balm changes from a solid to a silky oil and removes long wearing face makeup, waterproof eye makeup and sunscreen. Its formula is fragrance free, and Clinique lists it for sensitive skin and sensitive eyes. Take The Day Off is a makeup remover, despite sounding like an instruction from human resources.1

Choose charcoal if your skin is oilier

Clinique positions Take The Day Off Charcoal Cleansing Balm for oilier skin. It removes face and eye makeup and sunscreen, with finely milled Japanese charcoal to help deeply cleanse skin and unclog pores. Look for Charcoal Powder on its ingredient list. The charcoal version is a separate formula, not simply another size of the original balm.2

How to use the original Take The Day Off balm

1. 1Start with dry hands and dry skin. Scoop a small amount of balm.
2. 2Gently massage the balm over your face with your fingertips.
3. 3Rinse thoroughly with warm water.
4. 4If you are double cleansing, follow with a gentle cleanser.
5. 5Gently pat your face dry with a clean towel.

The dry start is specific to this balm's directions; an ordinary gentle face cleanser generally starts on wet skin. Use lukewarm rather than hot water for washing and rinsing. Hot water can strip the skin barrier, the protective outer layer of skin, and increase dryness and irritation. Rinse until cleanser residue is gone, rather than stopping while a film remains.145

Do you need another cleanser after a balm?

Double cleansing means a balm followed by a gentle cleanser, not two competing attempts to win the bathroom sink. It is worth trying if you wear makeup: the balm or oil cleanser removes makeup particles first, and the gentle cleanser follows. If you do not wear makeup, double cleansing is not routinely necessary and can make skin drier. A balm's ability to remove sunscreen does not mean every sunscreen wearer needs two washes.3

When and how often should you cleanse?

Most people should wash their face in the morning and evening, and after sweating. That is a face washing schedule, not a requirement to use a balm twice daily. A makeup removing balm fits the evening cleanse, when you are removing the day's makeup and grime. For dry or sensitive skin, washing with water in the morning and using cleanser at night is an option. If you only wash once a day, make it the evening.34

How long should you massage a cleansing balm?

There is no standard face washing time, so a full minute is not a universal requirement. Concentrate on gentle application and thorough rinsing rather than a timer. Cleansing removes makeup, dirt and excess oil during the wash; it is not a result you need to wait weeks to see.345

What matters if your skin is sensitive?

For cleanser shopping generally, favour a gentle, fragrance free formula. The word gentle on a label is not regulated, so also consider the formula and how your skin feels after washing. Apply cleanser with your fingers rather than a washcloth, loofah or scrubbing brush, which can be harsh. Scrubbing irritates skin; stronger rubbing is not a better way to get clean.45

If cleansing leaves your skin dry or irritated, change to a gentler cleanser or use a thicker moisturizer after washing. Repeated washing removes natural oils as well as dirt, so adding extra cleanses can make dryness worse. See a dermatologist if you have concerns about your skin or need help choosing a routine.36

What goes on after cleansing?

Apply any skin medication or treatment after cleansing, then moisturizer. In a morning routine, sunscreen follows cleansing and treatment, before makeup. Moisturizer helps replenish moisture after washing removes some of the skin's natural oils. Avoid adding several treatment products simply because the cleansing step is finished; using too many products can irritate skin, especially when several target signs of aging.56