The Comparison, in One Table
| Cleansing oil | Cleansing balm | |
|---|---|---|
| Texture | Liquid, usually pumped | Solid, melts on skin |
| How it works | Oils dissolve makeup; emulsifiers let it rinse off | The same, in a thicker base |
| Packaging | Pump bottle | Jar or tube |
| Travel | Can leak | Travels well |
| Watch for | Fragrant essential oils in some formulas | Fragrance in some formulas |
How to Use Either One
- Apply to dry skin with dry hands, so the oil can grip makeup and sunscreen.
- Massage for about a minute, including over the eye area if the product allows it.
- Add a little water and keep massaging until it turns milky — that is the emulsifier working.
- Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
- Follow with a gentle second cleanse if you wear heavy makeup or sunscreen — see cleansing balms.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends limiting washing to twice a day and after sweating, with a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser. An oil or balm fits that as the evening step; in the morning, water or a light cleanser is usually enough.
Reading a Cleanser's Ingredient List
| Ingredient type | Examples on this page | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Base oils and esters | Olive oil (DHC), mineral oil (Kosé), safflower oil and ethylhexyl palmitate (Clinique) | Dissolve makeup, sunscreen and sebum |
| Emulsifiers | Sorbeth-30 tetraoleate, PEG-20 glyceryl triisostearate | Let the oil turn milky and rinse off with water |
| Waxes | Synthetic wax, polyethylene | Give balms their solid texture |
| Fragrant oils and fragrance | Rosemary leaf oil (DHC); lime, bergamot and orange oils (Farmacy); fragrance (Banila Co) | Add scent, which can irritate sensitive skin |
The emulsifier is what separates a cleansing oil from a bottle of plain oil: without one, oil sits on the skin and needs a second cleanser to lift it off. A short list with no fragrant oils — Clinique's balm has nine ingredients — is the safest starting point for sensitive skin.
