Can you just use cleansing balm?
Yes, since the cleansing balm removes all makeup and impurities, wipe away the residue for smooth, clean skin that isn't stripped of any natural oils. If your skin is craving a facial mask, you can leave the balm on for 20 minutes while you continue the rest of your routine, and then wash it off with warm water.
Anyone can use a cleansing balm, but two categories of users would benefit the most: Those that wear heavy makeup. Those with dry, very dry and sensitive skin - whether wearing makeup or not.
Can you use a cleansing balm every day? Gentle and thorough, the cleansing balm is the perfect everyday cleanser, as it won't dry out your skin. In addition to helping balance the skin's pH level, it protects the skin's natural moisture barrier, so with each use, you will feel your skin's smooth texture improve.
They provide a more robust and nourishing protective layer to your skin, sealing in your skincare for optimal results while shielding from external elements such as cold or dry air. Balms are known to be healing, calming, ultra-hydrating, luxuriously thick, and are usually the final step in the skincare regimen.
From personal experience, using a balm or oil-based cleanser feels a lot gentler on my skin. Theoretically, the science agrees. That's because, while washing your face is essential to keeping your skin happy, over-washing it can have the opposite effect.
There's no set guideline for which types of cleansers are best for double cleansing; the most common practice is to wash your face with a pure oil, oil-based liquid cleanser, cleansing balm, gentle face scrub, or cleansing cloth and then follow with a regular, water-soluble cream, gel, or lotion cleanser that's ...
If you have dry, dehydrated and flaking skin, use a balm daily to heal and prevent further moisture loss. For sensitive skins, use balms when necessary to nourish and repair the skin.
These cleansing ingredients are called "surfactants" and are an important part of an effective cleansing balm. Without surfactants, the oils in the balm won't rinse from the skin which can cause clogged pores, excess oil and breakouts.
A balm not only provides moisture, it helps the skin to retain moisture. Oils nourish and soften the skin, while beeswax – which serves to thicken the balm – also helps to create a barrier on the skin, locking in moisture.
"Many people have fallen in love with the popularity of cleansing oils and cleansing balms due to the luxurious feel they give to the skin when used," says Rouleau (uh, yeah, guilty). But the problem is that the oil residue these cleansers leave behind is no good for clog-prone pores.
Which is better cleansing balm or oil?
Pro: Cleansing Oils Are More Hygienic
This means that the formula doesn't get exposed to a lot of air and unlike cleansing balms, you don't have to stick your fingers in the formula (because the chances of that tiny spatula going missing are high – let's be real).
Dr. Garshick says the most immediate signs are clogged pores, blackheads, and excess oil production. She advises moisturizing no more than two times a day, using a product formulated for your skin type.

Blemished skin may benefit from using a cleansing balm because they are ultra-gentle yet powerful in lifting and dissolving lingering sebum and impurities that cause breakouts. Cleansing balms are also a gentle yet effective alternative to using makeup-remover wipes that can be abrasive and over-exfoliate the skin.
Creams can generally work on any skin type and are the least occlusive of the three. Balms are best for skin that needs intense repair or spot treatment. Facial oils can also help any skin type, but you must apply them at the very end of your skincare routine and use them with another form of moisturizer.
The main difference between a balm, moisturiser and lotion is its consistency and thickness. All three, have one common goal, to hydrate, treat and repair your dry skin.
- To wash your face with milk, take two tablespoons of whole milk in a bowl.
- Dip a cotton ball in the milk and apply on your skin directly.
- Gently massage the milk on your face and wash it off with lukewarm water.
If you have oily or acne-prone skin, look for cleansing balms with lightweight oils, like jojoba oil and safflower oil, as well as gentle exfoliants like AHAs and BHAs, says Dr. Fahs, to help keep pores clear.
For maximum effectiveness, Rescue Balm should be applied after any acids, toners or serums and before moisturizer.
"Any liquids like oils and solids like balms may separate or become too solid, so it's best to keep them at room temperature. Fragrances will find a fridge too cold, but steer clear of keeping them near the sun or in your bathroom."
Balms have a thicker consistency than a serum and work on the surface of the skin, while the serum penetrates the deeper layers. Eye balms are designed to moisturise, protect and plump the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to help skin appear more taut. Look for ingredients that promote moisture and suppleness.
Why balms are good for the skin?
Balms are similar to moisturizers in that they help hydrate, nourish and protect the skin, but are different in formulation, texture and consistency. Balms are usually formulated with a mix of oils, waxes and butters and generally do not contain any water, and therefore they don't need a preservative.
For oily skin types, a cleansing balm might be a welcomed addition to your cleansing oily skin routine. Gentle yet effective in dissolving away excess oils from extra sebum production and makeup, cleansing balms don't require the scrubbing that's needed when using say, a water-based cleansing method.
As for application, cleansing balms pretty much work the same way as cleansing oils, with extra steps such as warming up the product between your hands or fingers first to soften the product prior to applying it on your face. It also requires to be emulsified with water to ensure you're able to rinse away your makeup.
Lip balm often contains beeswax or carnauba wax, camphor, cetyl alcohol, lanolin, paraffin, and petrolatum, among other ingredients. Some varieties contain dyes, flavor, fragrance, phenol, salicylic acid, and sunscreen.
- 1/4 cup almond oil.
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil.
- 2 tablespoons beeswax.
- 1/2 teaspoon vitamin E oil.
- 1 tablespoon shea butter.
- Essential oils (optional) - for this recipe, we used Frankincense & Lavender.