This Unexpected Product Completely Changed the Way I Cleanse My Face

This balm is the bomb! Dad jokes aside, it provides a thorough, tingly wash, thanks to eucalyptus and clove leaf oils. Vitamin E, jojoba, and avocado oils also contribute to its skin-conditioning magic.

Even waterproof makeup is no match for this popular balm, which combines soothing blueberry, kiwi, and strawberry extracts; nourishing fruit oils; and a mix of marula-seed, baobab-seed, Kalahari melon-seed, mongongo, and ximenia oils.

Take the Day Off is among the first cleansing balms I'd ever heard of, and I discovered it well before I started making a career of testing beauty products. (That means it's been around forever.) It's got thousands of five-star ratings on Sephora, with reviewers touting its ability to break down even a full beat. While super effective, this one doesn't rinse away as easily as some others, so you should definitely plan on having a slippery, water-based cleanser on deck to round out your cleansing ritual.

Here's a clean option packed only with ingredients you can pronounce, like sunflower-seed oil, sweet almond oil, and baobab-seed oil. It's also got natural sugar extracts to help create a creamy lather once activated by water.

The OG Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser ($5) has been a long-standing (literally decades-long) vanity staple for many due to its ultrathick consistency and makeup-removing prowess. But for those whose skin becomes overwhelmed by cream cleansers, this balm might be a better option.

K-beauty stans will tell you that this balm is one of the best. That's why it keeps selling out! The hero ingredient is fatty acid–rich sea buckthorn oil, which not only softens and protects the skin but also gives this special balm its vibrant yellow hue. You'll also recognize brightening persimmon extract and nourishing vitamin E on the ingredient label.

The growing popularity of the extended skincare routines brought to the forefront by the K-beauty boom has a lot to do with the reason double cleansing is now so widely accepted stateside. This balm by Glow Recipe is just another representation of the brand's commitment to elevating the skincare experience from a chore to a luxury. As the name suggests, it's got papaya-seed enzymes and oil to resurface and hydrate the skin, along with blueberry extract for added environmental protection.

This cleaner-than-clean Oil Solid exists in a firm state but gradually melts down into balm, then an oil, then a milky froth as it's warmed into the skin and mixed with water. It's lightweight and nongreasy despite being packed with sunflower and pumpkin oils.

If you're a fan of Hungarian beauty brand Omorovicza, you may have anticipated that the hero ingredient Hungarian moor mud—which is laced through all its formulations—would be included here. The calcium- and magnesium-rich ingredient detoxifies the skin, while sweet almond oil nourishes. Plus, it smells absolutely divine, thanks to orange blossom.

Elemis is known for its spa-day essentials, and this cleansing balm is the perfect option for a luxe day of pampering. It's got rose and mimosa waxes infused with nourishing elderberry, starflower, and supercharged oils to grip makeup and debris. Anti-aging superhero algae is also in the mix, so you know the benefits extend well past cleansing time.

This botanical-forward formula brings together moringa-seed extract, wild sea fennel, and vitamin E to balance, purify, and rejuvenate the skin. I give this bonus points for the cleansing cloth that comes with it so you can be sure to remove every last bit of the stuff gently.

Up next, My 62-Year-Old Mom Credits This Cheap Face Cream for Her Wrinkle-Free Complexion