16 Best Drugstore Cleansing Balms

It wasn’t long ago that you couldn’t find any selection of cleansing balms in the drugstore. I remember searching Amazon and only finding a few brands that I’ve since come to love. (Hello, Heimish!) But it seems like every day there is a new affordable cleansing balm hitting the market.

While there are some incredible luxury cleansing balms available, today, I’d like to shine the spotlight on drugstore brands.

These budget-friendly brands have created some products that often rival and outperform their expensive luxury counterparts.

So if you are looking for the best drugstore cleansing balm, continue reading for some fantastic options.

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16 Best Drugstore Cleansing Balms

I continue to test drugstore cleansing balms and update this post as brands continue to release new balm cleansers at the drugstore.

Scroll down to the bottom of this post for more details on Good Molecules, InstaNatural (an Amazon buy), e.l.f., and CeraVe drugstore cleansing balms.

Here are my thoughts on some of the best drugstore cleansing balms that are readily available from your local drugstore, mass retailer, or online:

Those pesky spatulas can be very bothersome but necessary if you don’t want to stick your fingers in cleansing balm jars.

The ingredients are the real stars in this Korean cleansing balm.

Ingredients include: shea butter, coconut fruit extract, lime fruit extract, jasmine extract, daffodil flower extract, rose extract, orange peel oil, lavender oil, grapefruit peel oil, eucalyptus globulus leaf oil, tea tree leaf oil, and bergamot fruit oil.

Heimish All Clean Balm is my favorite of all the cleansing balms I’ve tried, both drugstore and high-end. Perfection.

With such a long list of fragrant essential oils, this could go one way or another. For me, it works.

The scent is relaxing and herbal, like a day at the spa.

The balm turns from a solid to oil to milk with the addition of water.

It melts similarly to other Korean sherbet cleansers, leaves no trace of oiliness on the skin, and easily removes stubborn makeup, dirt, oil, and other impurities.

Related Post: Heimish All Clean Balm and Foams Review

The solid balm melts into a silk oil when applied to the skin. Once water is added it becomes milky and easily dissolves makeup, dirt, oil, and other impurities.

This cleansing balm feels like a luxury cleansing balm in texture and works just as well as others 2x, 3x or more its price.

The one drawback is that it comes in a small 2 oz jar, so it may not last as long as other drugstore cleansing balms.

Please note that this elf cleansing balm has a light fragrance. It would work well as step 1 of a double cleanse, followed by e.l.f.’s foaming gel cleanser Holy Hydration! Daily Cleanser.

Like other CeraVe products, this CeraVe cleansing balm is formulated with three essential ceramides (Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, and Ceramide EOP) to support a healthy skin barrier and replenish dry skin.

Plant-based jojoba oil is a lightweight wax ester that is similar in structure to the natural oils our skin produces and helps lock in moisture.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps protect the skin from free radicals and environmental aggressors.

The solid texture melts into your skin and rinses off cleanly without any residue or leaving your skin feeling greasy.

This makeup cleansing balm is non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog pores. It’s suitable for all skin types, even dry, oily, and even sensitive skin types.

It’s also allergy-tested, soap-free, fragrance-free, paraben-free, and alcohol-free.

The only drawback is that the jar is SMALL at only 1.3 oz. Directions say to use a pearl-sized amount, but I find that I need to use more than that to fully remove my makeup.

This brand is a clean skincare line, vegan, and cruelty-free.

Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm comes in a cute pink jar, and is a little smaller (2.3 oz) than some of the other cleansing balms I have tried (3.88 oz).

Some of the oils in this formula include eucalyptus leaf oil, clove leaf oil, jojoba seed oil, avocado oil, apricot kernel oil, sclerocarya birrea (marula) seed oil and sesame seed oil.

The scent of the eucalyptus leaf oil and especially the clove leaf oil is very strong. Clove oil always seems to dominate whatever formula it is in.

The formula melts on the skin and does a great job of removing makeup and eye makeup. After using the entire jar, the scent has really grown on me.

I love that the clean Versed formula rinses cleanly and really goes to work on dirt and oil.

Related Post: Versed Skincare Review

The name really describes the product to a tee since it immediately dissolves upon application and melts makeup with its soothing green-colored formula.

The scent is pleasant and clean.

Other notable ingredients include mandarin orange peel oil and lactic acid. It is 1.4 oz which seems too small for the price.

Some other balms are almost 3x the size and only a few dollars more. Otherwise, this is one of my favorite drugstore formulas.

Like other cleansing balms, it is removed with a damp washcloth to reveal clean nourished skin.

This makeup remover balm easily transforms into oil when applied to your face.

It removes makeup well and doesn’t leave much of a residue like other cleansing balms, but leaves your face clean and fresh.

I read that one of these jars is sold every 3.1 seconds. I’m thrilled to see that it is now available in CVS stores in the US.

It contains botanicals, vitamin E, and vitamin C to nourish the skin.

This cleansing balm dissolves on the skin into oil and makes quick work of a face full of makeup, and rinses away easily, leaving your skin balanced and never feeling tight.

Like most of the other cleansing balms in this post, it has a light fragrance.

This is a great formulation, and I can see why one is sold every 3.1 seconds.

Due to the popularity of the Original formula, there are now additional formulas:

• Pore Clarifying: Contains 85% Tea tree leaf extract to clear and tighten pores. Ideal for oily and acne-prone skin.
• Nourishing: Contains ginseng berry, royal jelly, and the highest oil concentration of all Clean It Zero Cleansing Balms for hydration and moisture. Ideal for dry skin.
• Purifying: Contains 7 natural stress-relieving herbs to calm irritation. Ideal for sensitive skin.
• Revitalizing: Contains the most antioxidants to fight environmental aggressors. Ideal for stressed aging skin.

It is formulated with rosehip oil to brighten and moisturize the skin. Rosehip oil contains antioxidants that protect the skin from environmental stress and inflammation.

It also contains camellia oil, which is filled with antioxidant-rich phytonutrients, vitamin A and E.

Cocoa and shea butters soothe and soften the skin, and improve the skin’s ability to retain moisture. Citrus essential oils tone and balance the skin.

I was glad to see that this cleansing balm includes a small white spatula to scoop out the balm so that you don’t need to use your fingers. The scent is lightly citrusy and not too strong.

The balm is soft enough to easily extract from the jar and cleanses leaving the skin moisturized and supple.

As with most other cleansing balms, I make sure to follow up with a second non-oil based cleanse to remove any remaining oils.

The instructions note that there are other uses for this balm besides a facial cleanser. You can use it from head to toe as an all-over cleanser, or as a shaving cream.

You can also combine it with clay or exfoliants to create a mask. Plus it can be used on the scalp for dryness.

Although the 3.5 oz jar is not the smallest I’ve seen, I am only using this cleanser on my face since I think I would use it up too quickly if I were to use it on my body.

This cleansing balm is not solid at room temperature, so you squeeze the tube to extract the balm, which can get a bit messy.

It is a thick and rich balm that is well suited for a first cleanse to remove makeup. I definitely need to do a second oil-free cleanse to remove the light layer of residue left after rinsing off this balm.

Dry skin types may really appreciate the rich formula. This may also be ideal during the cold weather months when the skin is parched and extra dry.

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It is formulated with ethically and sustainably sourced Fair Trade Certified Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. Coconut oil balances the skin’s moisture levels, monoi oil hydrates the skin, and sweet almond oil soothes the skin.

This cleansing balm is formulated to remove dirt, makeup, and other impurities while keeping the skin hydrated. Due to the coconut oil-based formula, removing stubborn eye makeup even is a breeze.

This balm cleanser is free of parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, sulfates, and dyes.

This balm cleanser removes makeup easily. Makeup really does melt right off your face thanks to the rich coconut-based cleansing balm.

With so many natural ingredients it is somewhat surprising to see that there is added fragrance. The scent is a pleasant mix between floral monoi and coconut oil.

Since it’s only 2.25 oz, if you use this on a daily basis to remove your makeup, it won’t last long.

The price makes up for it, though, as it is one of the least expensive cleansing balms that I tried. If you are on a budget, this balm cleanser may be worth a try.

Derived from hemp, cannabis sativa seed oil moisturizes and calms the skin.

It doesn’t contain any CBD or psychoactive THC compounds, but it does have antioxidant properties that will provide anti-inflammatory benefits and protection from environmental aggressors.

The cleansing balm also contains shea butter and squalane for additional moisture and to soothe the skin. It has a custom fragrance blend of bergamot, vetiver, and verbena oils.

The balm turns into a silky oil as soon as it is applied to your skin. When water is added, it turns into a milky wash that easily removes makeup without leaving any greasy residue.

This cleansing balm is 100% vegan and, like the rest of Milani’s products, is never tested on animals.

The first thing that I noticed about the light green cleansing balm is the size of the container.

It is only 1.59 oz. It turns out that the size is my only complaint because this cleansing balm has a smooth elegant texture, is effective at removing makeup, and smells divine.

The scent reminds me of my favorite spa.

I love opening the lid just to get a whiff! Now all they need to do is double the size (without doubling the price), and this might be better than my current favorite drugstore cleansing balm.

Gingseng is skin-balancing and has skin-protective antioxidant benefits. Additional antioxidants include vitamin E and turmeric extract, which are anti-inflammatory and brightening.

The sherbet-like texture leaves your skin feeling soft, clean, and hydrated. The purple-shaded cleansing balm is fragrance-free.

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Niacinamide balances and controls oil production while skin-loving oils like olive fruit, sea buckthorn, and grapeseed oils moisturize without clogging your pores.

The balm melts on contact with your skin and turns into a milky cleanser when you add water. It rinses off easily without leaving any residue.

This Byoma cleansing balm has a fresh, herbal scent thanks to the Rosemary leaf oil in the formula.

This is a fragrance-free cleansing balm that is gentle on the skin and leaves skin soft and smooth, never dry or feeling stripped.

This cleansing balm even removes waterproof mascara and makeup. It doesn’t leave a weird film on your skin either.

This is a great choice for those with sensitive skin since there aren’t many cleansing balms out there that are unscented.

Related Post: Good Molecules Skincare Review

The cleansing balm also contains niacinamide to even out skin tone and nourishing shea butter.

Hexylresorcinol, a molecule derived from cereals, is skin brightening thanks to its high concentration of tyrosinase, an enzyme that inhibits melanin (pigment) production.

This cleansing balm would be a great choice for those with hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and other discoloration due to its brightening benefits.

The balm has a lightweight texture that melts into an oil when you rub it on your skin. When water is added, the oil turns into a creamy lather that cleanses without stripping or drying out your skin.

The rich texture of raw honey adds an extra touch of luxury to your cleansing routine while the balm removes makeup, oil, and impurities.

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The 10-ingredient cleansing balm contains Japanese Barley Magic (fermented Japanese pearl barley), an ingredient rich in antioxidants and vitamins that helps regulate melanin production for brighter skin and a reduction in the look of dark spots.

Sourced from Japan, Pearl barley also contains vitamin E to soften and protect your skin.

The cleansing balm removes dirt, oil, waterproof makeup, and sunscreen without leaving your skin feeling greasy.

It has a citrus scent due to the orange peel oil in the formula.

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How Do Cleansing Balms Work?

Cleansing balms typically start out as a solid waxy substance, but once they are applied to the skin, they melt and turn into an oil. Once water is added, they emulsify and get to work.

They are formulated to dissolve stubborn face and eye makeup and prep your skin for the second cleanse in your double cleansing routine or the next step in your skincare routine.

While some cleansing balms excel at dissolving eye makeup in a few seconds flat, others treat your skin with their luxurious oils and scents.

Cleansing balms are ideal if you have dry skin and need nourishment from the oils in the formula.

You may even like to use a cleansing balm as the first step of a double cleanse if you have oily or acne prone skin, since your second cleanse (water-based formula) should remove any residual oil from your skin.

Drugstore Cleansing Balms: Affordable Makeup Removal

Well, there you have it. An introduction to the fantastic affordable cleansing balms that can now be found in drugstores in the US.

I’m sure more cleansing balms will be making their way to mass retailers’ shelves as this product type continues to be popular for removing makeup and cleansing your skin, especially as the double cleanse continues in popularity.

As for the new cleansing balms that I continue to try, I like most of them, but Heimish All Clean Balm Cleansing Balm still holds the #1 spot for me!

Do you have any drugstore cleansing balm favorites that I should try? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading!

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