# The 5 Best Balm Cleansers on Amazon in 2026 > Best cleansing balm picks on Amazon for 2026: a hydrating balm, a fragrance free balm-to-oil, a plant-powered balm and a mandarin Korean balm. Guide: https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-balm-cleansers/ · Updated 2026-10-02 · By TwelveTabs · Search it live: https://twelvetabs.com/?q=cleansing%20balm&guide=best-balm-cleansers As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases. Our picks are independently researched, written by TwelveTabs AI and never sponsored. Prices and ratings change often: see the guide for today's. ## The top picks - **A hydrating balm for all skin types that rinses off as a milk:** e.l.f. SKIN Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm. A 2 oz solid balm that its listing says melts into an oil and turns into a milk that rinses off clean, with hyaluronic acid, ceramides and peptides, for all skin types. - **A fragrance free balm-to-oil for face and eye makeup:** Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm. A 3.8 oz balm-to-oil formula that its listing says turns from solid to oil on skin and removes over 95% of face makeup, sunscreen and pollutants, with a 100% fragrance free formula. - **A fragrance free balm-to-oil in a small, travel-friendly tub:** Neutrogena Makeup Remover Melting Balm, Fragrance-Free. A 2 oz fragrance-free balm-to-oil formula that its listing says goes from a solid to an oil to remove lip, eye and face makeup, with vitamin E, in travel-friendly packaging. - **A plant-powered balm that comes with a scooping spoon:** Farmacy Makeup Remover Cleansing Balm, Green Clean. A 3.4 oz balm made with moringa, holy basil and arugula, papaya extract and sunflower oil, which its listing says melts makeup and rinses or wipes off after you add warm water. - **A mandarin-scented Korean balm for eye and lip makeup:** HEIMISH All Clean Balm Mandarin. A Korean cleansing balm that its listing says changes from a rich oil to a milky emulsion and removes heavy eye and lip makeup, scented with mandarin oil and tangerine extract. Our top pick is the **[e.l.f. SKIN Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-balm-cleansers/#pick-1)**, a 2 oz solid balm that its listing says melts into an oil and rinses off as a milk. We read 124 Amazon result cards for "cleansing balm", compared 10 product pages and kept five balms. For a wash-off mask to use after cleansing, see our [clay masks guide](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-clay-masks/). For a fragrance free balm-to-oil, the [Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-balm-cleansers/#pick-2) comes in 3.8 oz, and the [Neutrogena Makeup Remover Melting Balm](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-balm-cleansers/#pick-3) is a 2 oz tub with travel-friendly packaging. The [Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-balm-cleansers/#pick-4) is plant-powered and the [HEIMISH All Clean Balm Mandarin](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-balm-cleansers/#pick-5) is a scented Korean balm. ## How to choose a cleansing balm Byrdie and Allure, quoting dermatologists, set out the choices that matter. - **What counts as a balm.** Allure says cleansing balms are oil-based formulas that break down stubborn makeup, sunscreen and oil more easily than a gel face wash. Byrdie says most come in a jar and start solid before they turn milky, while more fluid formulas sit in tubes. Every pick here is described in its listing as a balm that turns to an oil or milk when you use it, which is how we defined the category. - **Fragrance and skin type.** Byrdie says to steer clear of synthetic fragrance if you have dry or sensitive skin, and to avoid lanolin and coconut oil if you are acne-prone. Allure's dermatologist says to choose a fragrance-free balm for sensitive skin. The [Clinique Balm](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-balm-cleansers/#pick-2) and the [Neutrogena Melting Balm](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-balm-cleansers/#pick-3) list fragrance free, and the [HEIMISH All Clean Balm](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-balm-cleansers/#pick-5) lists a mandarin scent. - **Texture.** Byrdie says that as a general rule the thicker the texture, the more moisturizing the balm, and that some balms stay thick while others turn runnier as you add water. The [Farmacy Green Clean](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-balm-cleansers/#pick-4) listing says to add warm water to turn the balm milky. - **Size.** Byrdie says you need only a little balm and that a size lasting at least a month saves a repeat order, with minis easier to pack for a trip. The [Neutrogena Melting Balm](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-balm-cleansers/#pick-3) is a 2 ounce tub with travel-friendly packaging, and the [Clinique Balm](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-balm-cleansers/#pick-2) is 3.8 ounces. - **How to use it.** Allure's dermatologist suggests massaging the balm on dry skin with gentle pressure, adding warm or cool water to turn it milky, then rinsing, or wiping off with a clean, wet washcloth. A water-based face wash finishes a double cleanse. ## Our picks in detail ### 1. e.l.f. SKIN Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm: best hydrating balm for all skin types **Why it made the list** - The listing says it is a solid balm that melts into an oil and turns into a milk that rinses off clean. - It lists hyaluronic acid, ceramides and peptides, and says it suits all skin types. - Amazon's own summary lists makeup removal, including waterproof mascara, gentleness and a moisturized skin feel as positives. **Drawbacks** - Amazon's own summary lists skin irritation as mixed, with eye stinging noted. - The listing text we read does not name a scent, so check the page if fragrance matters to you. **Watch for this:** e.l.f. also sells a liquid Holy Hydration remover, which is a different product and is in our [makeup cleansers guide](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-makeup-cleansers/). The page we read is the 2 ounce balm, and a mini and a jumbo of the same balm share its review total. **Skip it if** you want a balm whose listing says fragrance free. The [Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-balm-cleansers/#pick-2) does. ### 2. Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm: best fragrance free balm-to-oil **Why it made the list** - The listing says the balm-to-oil formula changes from a solid balm to an oil when you apply it, and rinses off completely. - It lists over 95% removal of face makeup, sunscreen and pollutants, which is the maker's own figure. - The listing says it is 100% fragrance free, allergy tested, dermatologist tested and ophthalmologist tested. - Amazon's own summary lists waterproof makeup removal, no skin irritation and no eye stinging as positives. **Drawbacks** - Amazon's own summary lists vision effects as mixed, with blurriness noted. - Amazon's own summary lists consistency as mixed, with some finding the balm goes on thick. **Watch for this:** Clinique sells this balm under more than one listing, and the listings share one review total, so the figures describe one balm in more than one size. **Skip it if** you want a thinner texture. Amazon's own summary says some customers find this one goes on thick. ### 3. Neutrogena Makeup Remover Melting Balm, Fragrance-Free: best small fragrance free tub **Why it made the list** - The listing says the balm-to-oil formula goes from a solid to an oil to remove lip, eye and face makeup. - It lists a fragrance-free formula that it calls ideal for sensitive skin types, and vitamin E. - The listing says the packaging is travel-friendly. - Amazon's own summary lists effectiveness on waterproof sunscreen and heavy makeup, and a moisturizing feel, as positives. **Drawbacks** - Amazon's own summary lists skin irritation and ease of makeup removal as mixed. - A critical review says it left red, dry spots around the eyes after months of use. - Another critical review says the listing named two units but only one arrived. **Watch for this:** Check the pack count on the page before you order. One critical review says the listing named two units, and the listing text we read says 2 oz. **Skip it if** you want the larger tub. The [Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-balm-cleansers/#pick-2) is 3.8 oz. ### 4. Farmacy Makeup Remover Cleansing Balm, Green Clean: best plant-powered balm **Why it made the list** - The listing says the balm is made with a moringa, holy basil and arugula blend, papaya extract and sunflower oil. - It says to massage the balm onto dry skin, add warm water to turn it milky, then rinse or wipe off with a damp washcloth. - The maker's own claim is that it removes over 99% of longwear foundation, waterproof mascara and SPF. - Amazon's own summary lists makeup removal, gentleness, a luxurious texture and fragrance as positives. **Drawbacks** - Amazon's own summary lists skin irritation and value for money as mixed. - A critical review says it left a residue that the same balm bought elsewhere did not. - A critical review in Japanese says the scooping spoon was missing from the jar. **Watch for this:** Farmacy sells several balms under similar names. We read the Original Balm in the 3.4 ounce size, and the other listings have their own review totals. **Skip it if** you want a fragrance free balm. The [Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-balm-cleansers/#pick-2) lists one. ### 5. HEIMISH All Clean Balm Mandarin: best mandarin-scented Korean balm **Why it made the list** - The listing says the balm removes heavy eye and lip makeup, and that its texture changes from a rich oil to a milky emulsion. - It lists mandarin oil and tangerine extract as the scent, and says it is dermatologically tested. - Amazon's own summary lists effectiveness, gentleness, no eye stinging and a silky texture as positives. **Drawbacks** - Inference: a citrus scent is a drawback for anyone who wants a fragrance free balm. - The listing text we read does not name a size. **Watch for this:** Amazon's own summary lists no negative or mixed aspects, so the first drawback above is our own inference from the listing. **Skip it if** you want no scent at all. The [Neutrogena Makeup Remover Melting Balm](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-balm-cleansers/#pick-3) says it is fragrance-free. ## What we left out, and why We read 124 result cards from two pages of "cleansing balm". 28 were sponsored, and we skipped them. From the 96 organic cards we chose 10 contenders, mostly by review count, and read the Amazon page of each. Toners, masks, wipes and oils were set aside first. We left out: - **JUNO & Co. Clean 10 Cleansing Balm.** Already a pick in our makeup cleansers guide, so it would repeat a live pick. - **ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm.** Its page has a scent selector and its review total is shared with two other Elemis listings, so we could not tell which scent the reviews describe. - **CeraVe Cleansing Balm.** In the listing text we read, it is called a balm but is not described as changing from solid to oil or milk, which is how this guide defines one. - **The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser.** Its listing says to dispense it into your hands, which describes a fluid cleanser, not a solid balm. - **The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm.** Its listing calls it an upgraded version of an earlier formula and the page's set name reads New Version, so its review total may cover both formulas. ## Questions people ask ### What is the best cleansing balm? The easy first pick is the [e.l.f. SKIN Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-balm-cleansers/#pick-1), a hydrating balm for all skin types. If you want one that says fragrance free, the [Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-balm-cleansers/#pick-2) and the [Neutrogena Melting Balm](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-balm-cleansers/#pick-3) do. ### Do you need a second cleanser after a cleansing balm? Allure's dermatologist calls a balm a great first step for removing makeup and sunscreen before a traditional cleanser, and says to finish a double cleanse with a water-based face wash. ### How do you use a cleansing balm? Allure's dermatologist suggests massaging it onto dry skin with gentle pressure, adding warm or cool water, never hot, so it turns milky, then rinsing it off or wiping it away with a clean, wet washcloth. ### Which cleansing balm is fragrance free? The listings for the [Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-balm-cleansers/#pick-2) and the [Neutrogena Melting Balm](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-balm-cleansers/#pick-3) both say fragrance free. The [HEIMISH All Clean Balm](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-balm-cleansers/#pick-5) lists a mandarin and tangerine scent. ### How did TwelveTabs choose these cleansing balms? TwelveTabs read the first two pages of Amazon results for "cleansing balm", set aside sponsored cards, toners, masks, wipes and oils, and read the pages of 10 contenders. Listings that shared a review total with another scent or product, or that repeated a live pick, were left out. AI wrote this guide from that research. To see what TwelveTabs picks today, run the search yourself with the button on this page. ## How we researched On October 2, 2026 we read the organic Amazon listings for "cleansing balm" across two pages of results. AI compared them, set aside sponsored cards, toners, masks, wipes and cleansing oils, read the pages of 10 contenders and chose five balms. AI wrote this guide from that research. Listings change: we read them on October 2, 2026, and a size, scent or seller may differ today. Several balms share one review total across sizes or scents, so only listings whose snippets matched the page were kept. Features are the listing text as we read it, which the collector cut to about 200 characters per bullet. Cleansers can irritate skin and eyes, and the guide makes no health claims of its own. ### Sources - [Byrdie: The 6 Best Cleansing Balms](https://www.byrdie.com/best-cleansing-balms-4797728) - [Allure: 7 Best Cleansing Balms](https://www.allure.com/gallery/best-cleansing-balms)