What is a cleansing balm?

After a way to give your skin a deep cleanse without stripping it of all its natural oils and healthy hydration? Cleansing balms should definitely be on your beauty radar!

What is a cleansing balm?

A fantastic alternative to regular cleansers, cleansing balms tend to have a creamier texture and are usually oil-based. Because of this, they can give your pores a deep clean while allowing your skin to retain plenty of moisture to keep it feeling soft and smooth.¹ Cleansing balms can be used on all skin types too. However, they’re especially beneficial for people with dry or sensitive skin. Their ability to penetrate through the pores and remove sebum also makes them ideal for problem skin.²

Benefits of using a cleansing balm

With so many benefits for the complexion, it’s no surprise that cleansing balm is fast becoming many people’s favourite skincare product! Here are just some of the reasons why you might want to switch to a cleansing balm:

It’ll keep your skin moisturised

Unlike regular cleansers, which can leave your skin feeling dry, cleansing balms have much creamier formulas and usually contain some sort of oil. This lets them cleanse your skin while also trapping any moisture below the surface without leaving any greasy residue behind.³

It’ll cleanse your face and remove makeup

Another significant benefit of cleansing balms is its ability to remove makeup. They give your pores a thorough clean and can be used in place of makeup wipes.⁴ What’s more, they tend to have gentler formulas and often natural ingredients, meaning you can safely use them to remove makeup from around your eyes!⁵

It’ll give your pores a deep clean

Due to cleansing balm’s oily base, it’s able to penetrate deep into the pores and remove any bacteria or excess sebum lurking below.⁶ The oils used in cleansing balms (like grape seed oil, apricot oil, and coconut oil) are often rich in vitamins and antioxidants. This means they’ll help rid your skin of free radicals which can cause impurities, blemishes, and cellular damage.⁷

How to use a cleansing balm

Just like a regular cleanser, you can use a cleansing balm both day and night. Because they tend to be a thicker, creamier consistency, you’ll need to follow these four steps if you want to get the most out of them:⁸

1. Scoop or squeeze a penny-sized amount of cleansing balm into your hands and rub it between your palms to warm it up. Then, using your fingertips, massage it evenly all over your face, including around your eyes.
2. Once you’ve adequately rubbed the balm into your skin, dampen your fingers with warm water and massage your face again.
3. Rinse your hands and soak a flannel or muslin towel in warm water. Gently wipe off the cleansing balm, soaking the towel again when it cools down or becomes loaded with product.
4. Allow your face to air dry or pat it gently with a soft, clean towel.

Keen to make the switch to a cleansing balm? Check out our full natural beauty face care range to find gorgeously scented and effortlessly hydrating cleansing balms from brands like Ethique, UpCircle and Trilogy. Shop Face Care Expertly reviewed by: Last updated: 3 December 2020 Sources 1 https://www.wellandgood.com/what-is-cleansing-balm/ 2 https://instanatural.com/blogs/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-cleansing-balms 3 https://www.wellandgood.com/what-is-cleansing-balm/ 4 https://instanatural.com/blogs/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-cleansing-balms 5 https://www.purewow.com/beauty/what-is-a-cleansing-balm 6 https://www.wellandgood.com/what-is-cleansing-balm/ 7 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/antioxidants-explained#what-they-are 8 https://www.purewow.com/beauty/what-is-a-cleansing-balm