Best Cleansing Balms for Removing Makeup (2026)
Eight cleansing balms for removing makeup, compared on how they melt waterproof mascara and long-wear formulas, how they rinse, and price.
Key Takeaways
A cleansing balm is a solid oil cleanser that melts on dry skin, so it’s a common first step for lifting long-wear foundation, waterproof mascara, and sunscreen.
Most balms here pair light oils or esters with an emulsifier, which turns the balm milky when water hits it and helps it rinse off.
The MANTLE Cleansing Balm, U Beauty’s double cleanser, turns into a cleansing milk and is designed to cover a full cleanse in one step, and 90% of volunteers in a seven-day consumer study agreed waterproof makeup was effectively removed.
Prices run from $12 to $78, and jar sizes vary widely, so it helps to compare price per ounce.
How a Cleansing Balm Takes Off Makeup
Long-wear makeup and water-resistant sunscreen are formulated to stay put through sweat and water, so a splash of foaming cleanser can leave some behind. A cleansing balm works the other way around. You massage it over dry skin, the oils loosen makeup, and then a little water turns the balm into a milk that carries the makeup away.
The best cleansing balm for removing makeup depends on what you wear and how you like to rinse. Some balms are made to emulsify and rinse off with water, others can come off with a cloth, and a few are rich enough that you may want a second, water-based cleanser after. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends washing your face with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser, using your fingertips rather than scrubbing.
We compared eight balms on what each brand says it’s made to remove, how it rinses, what’s in the formula, and price for the size. For a broader roundup, our comparison of cleansing balms by how they rinse off covers the category as a whole.
At a Glance
The MANTLE Cleansing Balm: best overall, for a balm that turns into a cleansing milk and covers the whole cleanse.
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Makeup Cleansing Balm Makeup Remover: best for waterproof makeup around the eyes.
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm: best for a balm you can rinse off or remove with a cloth.
Farmacy Green Clean Fragrance-Free Cleansing Balm: best for long-wear lipstick and foundation.
CeraVe Makeup Removing Cleanser Balm: best for a Ceramide balm at a drugstore price.
Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm: best for a light-feeling balm under $20.
Neutrogena Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm, Fragrance-Free: best for waterproof mascara, from a balm the brand calls gentle enough for the eye area.
e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm: best for the lowest price on the list.
How We Compared These Balms
We did not test these products hands-on. We compared what each brand lists on its own product page, including the ingredient list as published on the brand’s site or a public ingredient database, in November 2026.
What it’s made to remove: long-wear makeup, waterproof mascara, and sunscreen, as each brand describes it.
How it rinses: whether the balm emulsifies into a milk, rinses with water alone, or suits a cloth.
Formula base: the oils, esters, and emulsifiers near the top of the ingredient list, plus supporting ingredients like Ceramides.
Price for the size: jar sizes range from 2 oz to 150ml, so we list each price and size as the brand shows it.
Cleansing Balms for Removing Makeup Compared
Product | Price (size) | Key ingredients | How it rinses | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The MANTLE Cleansing Balm | $78 (150ml) | C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Sucrose Polystearate, Bisabolol | Turns into a cleansing milk | A full cleanse in one step |
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Makeup Cleansing Balm Makeup Remover | $47 (4 oz) | Ethylhexyl Palmitate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Shea Butter, Ceramide NP | Melts, then rinses | Waterproof eye makeup |
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm | $75 | Sweet Almond Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides | Water or a cleansing cloth | A balm that suits a cloth |
Farmacy Green Clean Fragrance-Free Cleansing Balm | $39 (100 ml) | Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Sunflower Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate | Melts, then rinses | Long-wear lipstick and foundation |
CeraVe Makeup Removing Cleanser Balm | $14.99 | Ethylhexyl Palmitate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Ceramide NP | Melts, then rinses | A Ceramide balm on a budget |
Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm | $17.99 (2.3 oz) | Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Jojoba Seed Oil | Melts, then rinses | A light-feeling balm |
Neutrogena Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm, Fragrance-Free | Price varies (2.6 oz) | Isopropyl Myristate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 80 | Melts, then rinses | Waterproof mascara |
e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm | $12 (2 oz) | Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Ceramide 3 | Melts into an oil, then a milk | The lowest price |
Prices and sizes as listed on each brand’s US site in November 2026.
1. U Beauty The MANTLE Cleansing Balm
If you’d rather have one balm handle a full day of makeup, The MANTLE Cleansing Balm is built for that. U Beauty calls it a double cleanser in one step: you massage it into dry skin for 30 to 60 seconds, add water, and keep massaging as it turns into a cleansing milk that splashes off, with a cloth for any leftover makeup if you want one. The brand lists makeup, sunscreen, and pollutants as what it lifts, and says it leaves skin conditioned without stripping.
The ingredient list opens with two light emollients, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate and C15-19 Alkane, followed by Glycerin and Sucrose Polystearate, a sugar-derived emulsifier that helps the balm turn milky. Bisabolol, Sodium Hyaluronate, and Beta-Carotene appear further down. In a consumer perception study of 30 volunteers after seven days of daily use with a cloth, 90% agreed waterproof makeup was effectively removed and 100% agreed their skin felt clean and conditioned.
Best for: a single balm that covers the whole cleanse, makeup and sunscreen included.
Key ingredients: Short-Chain Hyaluronic Acid, Beta-Carotene, Fruit Alpha Hydroxy Acids, Chamomile.
Price: $78 (150ml), with a 50ml size also offered.
Worth knowing: the 50ml jar is an easy way to try it before committing to the full size.
2. IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Makeup Cleansing Balm Makeup Remover
IT Cosmetics makes a waterproof claim for this balm. The brand says it “melts away even the most stubborn waterproof makeup and SPF” and describes it as ophthalmologist-tested. Ethylhexyl Palmitate and PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate lead the formula, and Shea Butter, Jojoba Seed Oil, and Ceramide NP are also in it. IT Cosmetics reports that 96% say makeup is removed effectively, a figure it bases on instrumental testing.
Best for: waterproof eye makeup, from a balm the brand describes as ophthalmologist-tested.
Key ingredients: Ethylhexyl Palmitate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Shea Butter, Jojoba Seed Oil, Ceramide NP.
Price: $47 (4 oz).
Worth knowing: at 4 oz, the jar is one of the larger sizes here.
3. Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
Elemis’s balm leans on Sweet Almond Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, and PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, and the brand says you can rinse it with water or remove it with a cleansing cloth. Elemis describes it as “Clinically proven to remove long-wear & waterproof makeup.” It comes in a wide range of jar sizes.
Best for: a balm that rinses with water or comes off with a cleansing cloth.
Key ingredients: Sweet Almond Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, PEG-8 Beeswax.
Price: $75 (six sizes listed).
Worth knowing: the ingredient list includes several Essential Oils, so a patch test is a sensible first step if your skin tends to react.
4. Farmacy Green Clean Fragrance-Free Cleansing Balm
Farmacy puts a number on removal. The base is Cetyl Ethylhexanoate and Sunflower Seed Oil with two Polyglyceryl emulsifiers, and the brand says it “removes over 99% of longwear lipstick, foundation, waterproof mascara + SPF after 1 cleanse.” In the brand’s clinical testing on 31 participants, 96% agreed their skin felt smoother and softer after one cleanse.
Best for: long-wear lipstick and foundation.
Key ingredients: Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate, Polyglyceryl-10 Dioleate.
Price: $39 (100 ml).
Worth knowing: Farmacy also sells a scented version of Green Clean, so check the label for the one you want.
5. CeraVe Makeup Removing Cleanser Balm
CeraVe’s balm carries the brand’s three Ceramides (NP, AP, and EOP) alongside Ethylhexyl Palmitate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, and Jojoba Seed Oil. CeraVe says it’s made to remove makeup, including long-wear makeup and waterproof mascara.
Best for: a Ceramide cleansing balm at a drugstore price.
Key ingredients: Ethylhexyl Palmitate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP.
Price: $14.99.
Worth knowing: retailers sometimes list it as CeraVe Hydrating Makeup Cleansing Balm, so either name may come up when you shop.
6. Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm
Under $20, Day Dissolve still makes a waterproof claim. Versed says it “melts away makeup (yes, even waterproof formulas).” Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, and Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate form the base, with Jojoba Seed Oil.
Best for: a light-feeling balm under $20.
Key ingredients: Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil.
Price: $17.99 (2.3 oz).
Worth knowing: Eucalyptus and Clove Oils appear on the ingredient list, so try it on a small patch of skin before a full cleanse.
7. Neutrogena Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm, Fragrance-Free
Neutrogena’s balm is built on Isopropyl Myristate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 80, and Beeswax. Neutrogena says it “Removes even stubborn waterproof mascara” and is gentle enough for the sensitive eye area.
Best for: removing waterproof mascara around the eye area.
Key ingredients: Isopropyl Myristate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 80, Beeswax.
Price: varies by retailer (2.6 oz).
Worth knowing: Neutrogena doesn’t list a price on its own product page, so check a few retailers before you buy.
8. e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm
At $12, e.l.f.’s balm is the lowest price here. It pairs Cetyl Ethylhexanoate with PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate and Ceramide 3, and the brand says it melts into an oil, then a milk that rinses off clean.
Best for: a cleansing balm at the lowest price on the list.
Key ingredients: Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, PEG-10 Isostearate, Ceramide 3.
Price: $12 (2 oz).
Worth knowing: e.l.f. notes that its balm can sometimes loosen lash-extension glue, so take care if you wear them.
How to Use a Cleansing Balm
Scoop a small amount with clean, dry fingers, or with a spatula if your jar comes with one.
Massage it over dry skin, including the eye area, for 30 to 60 seconds so it loosens makeup.
Add a little lukewarm water and keep massaging until the balm turns milky.
Rinse with lukewarm water, or remove it with a soft, damp cloth if the brand suggests one.
Follow with a water-based cleanser if your skin still feels residue, then moisturize.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best cleansing balm for removing makeup?
It depends on what you wear. U Beauty’s The MANTLE Cleansing Balm suits you if you want one balm to cover the whole cleanse, IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Makeup Cleansing Balm Makeup Remover is the pick here for waterproof eye makeup, and e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm is the lowest-priced option.
How is a cleansing balm different from a regular face cleanser?
A balm is oil-based and is applied to dry skin, so it can dissolve long-wear makeup and sunscreen that water-based cleansers may leave behind. A gel or foaming cleanser is applied to wet skin and is often used as the second step after a balm.
Can a cleansing balm remove waterproof mascara?
Many are made to. Neutrogena and CeraVe each say their balm removes waterproof mascara, and IT Cosmetics and Versed say theirs melts away waterproof makeup. Hold the balm on your lashes for a few seconds before massaging so it has time to loosen the formula.
Do I need a second cleanser after a cleansing balm?
Not necessarily. Some balms, like The MANTLE Cleansing Balm, are designed to cover the full cleanse, while others leave a light film that a water-based cleanser can lift. Go by how your skin feels after rinsing.
Can I use a cleansing balm with eyelash extensions?
It’s best to check with your lash technician first. Oil-based balms can loosen extension glue, and e.l.f. says to be careful with its balm if you have professional lash extensions.
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