If you’re slapping on multiple skincare products daily – sunscreen (and if you don’t, you really should), serum, moisturiser, makeup and more – then you need to make sure you’re properly cleansing your skin each and every night.
WHAT IS DOUBLE CLEANSING?
Enter double cleansing. The premise is simple – before you use your regular cleanser to remove the day’s gunk, you do a “pre-cleanse” before following up with your regular cleanse. Hence the name, double cleanse. Before you go dismissing this as a marketing gimmick, Dr Deshan Sebaratnam, a dermatologist at Liverpool Hospital and senior lecturer at UNSW, confirms it should be an important step in your routine if you’re serious about skin health.
“Many of us apply different products to our skin each day – sunscreen, makeup, etc,” he told news.com.au.
“Often these products contain hydrophobic compounds so water alone may not remove them completely. A cleanser can help removing these from the skin. Double cleansing is coming to vogue combining the use of a hydrophobic product (such as an oil) as a first step, following by a hydrophilic cleanser as a second step.”
To help you nail that first step, we’ve rounded up a list of the news.com.au checkout team’s top picks for cleansing balms and oils.
And to help you with the second step, check out our list of the best face cleansers and scrubs for every skin type.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
With hundreds of products available, it’s impossible to test every one out there. To help you find the best cleansing balm or oil we tested a range of well-known brands at different price points. In addition, our shopping team read hundreds of customer reviews and looked at test results and ratings from product review sites to find the best cleansing balm or oil for your skincare routine.
In this article
BEST CLEANSING BALMS AND OILS
Weleda Skin Food Nourishing Cleansing Balm, $24.95 at Adore Beauty
What You Need To Know
If a nourishing cleansing balm is at the top of your shopping list, you may want to try this new release from Weleda. The Skin Food Cleansing Balm is a unique oil-to-milk formula that effortlessly removes makeup, dirt and oil while leaving your skin feeling super hydrated and nourished.
It comes in a handy and travel-friendly squeeze tube. Plus we love that it’s made from 100 per cent natural essential oils – think pansy extract, organic calendula extract and organic camomile extract, just to name a few.
I recently got the chance to try this new release from Weleda and I was really into it. You know the brand for its iconic Skin Food Moisturiser, and now this cleansing balm takes on a similar formulation to cleanse your skin of makeup, sunscreen, dirt and more. One of my favourite things about this product is just how nourishing it is. You work the balm into dry skin and it transforms into an oil, then once you add water, it turns into a unique milky consistency that works hard to cleanse your skin.
Medik8 Lipid-Balance Cleansing Oil, $62 at The Iconic
What You Need To Know
No matter your skin type, how much or how little makeup you’re trying to remove, Medik8’s Lipid Balance Cleansing Oil is a great pick. The formulation is super gentle, dissolving makeup, sunscreen, waterproof mascara and more.
We love that the cleansing oil is packed with a bunch of fatty acids – we’re talking safflower oil, linoleic acid, vitamin E and moringa oil – to help rebalance your skin and maintain your skin’s natural defence barrier.
You’ll see on this list that I’ve tried a lot of cleansing balms and oils, but this is one of the only picks that I simply can’t stop purchasing.
It’s racked up an average rating of 4.8 out of five from over 600 Google reviews, with five-star rating customers calling it the “best oil cleanser I’ve ever used”.
A little goes a long way with this product and I adore how luxurious it feels on the skin, while still doing an excellent job of cleaning my face. I feel the price point is reasonable for how much product you get. One downside? Because it is a pump pack for an oil product, I wouldn’t recommend travelling with this one. I haven’t had any spillage but I personally wouldn’t take the risk.
Alpha-H Melting Moment Cleansing Balm with Wild Orange Leaf Extract, $69.95 at Adore Beauty
What You Need To Know
If you’ve got the cash to spend on a luxurious cleansing balm turned oil cleanser, then you need to check out this product from Alpha-H. The Australian-made formulation is packed with native wild orange leaf extract, grape seed oil and bisabolol extract from camomile – all working together to hydrate, nourish, soothe and increase circulation on the skin.
Alpha-H’s Melting Moment cleanser has an average rating of 4.7 out of five on the Adore Beauty website, and has sold out three times since launching in November 2021 – can you believe a humble cleanser could do so much? I’ve personally gone through two tubs of this stuff and I look forward to using it every single time. It’s soothing, luxurious and smells amazing.
Benefit Cosmetics The Porefessional Get Unblocked Cleansing Oil, $62 at Sephora
What You Need To Know
Earlier this year, Benefit Cosmetics launched a skincare line, all focused on clearing and treating those pesky pores. This cleansing oil was part of the range, and it’s a hardworking, lightweight and silky smooth makeup remover and cleanser.
It’s formulated with grape seed, jojoba seed, avocado and plum kernel oils, plus its rich in essential fatty acids, ceramides and more to leave your skin feeling soft and nourished.
Benefit Cosmetics’ cleansing oil has racked up an average rating of 4.6 out of five on the Sephora website, with happy customers noting there’s “no irritation”, it’s a “must have” and “perfect” for their double cleanse routine and their favourite for “easy” and “effortless” makeup removal.
I was lucky enough to be gifted it to try and I’ve already purchased myself a second bottle. It’s a super lightweight oil that melts into the skin and dissolves any signs of makeup, dirt and oil – a little goes a very long way.
Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm, $65 at Myer
What You Need To Know
As the name suggests, take the day off your face with Clinique’s cleansing balm. As you rub it into the skin, it transforms into an oil and removes makeup, sunscreen, oil, dirt and more.
The formulation is packed with nourishing ingredients to cleanse the skin – think safflower seed oil and vitamin E to hydrate and soothe.
We also love that it’s recommended for all skin types and is ophthalmologist tested.
Clinique’s cleansing balm has accumulated an average rating of 4.7 out of five on the Myer website from over 1300 five-star ratings.
This was the first ever cleansing balm or oil news.com.au checkout’s Philippa Tonkin used.
“Over the years, I’ve tried other, arguably trendier, products but this one will always have a special place in my heart. It is super gentle at removing makeup, and especially powerful when it comes to waterproof mascara.”
Heimish All Clean Balm, $30.48 at iHerb
What You Need To Know
Formulated with shea butter, citrus herb oil, coconut fruit extract and white flower complex, this cleansing balm-oil hybrid promises to cleanse your skin while leaving it feeling hydrated, soft and balanced. It offers a supple yet lightweight texture that feels super dreamy to blend into the skin.
The cleanser is also free from parabens, artificial fragrances and colourants, making it great for all skin types, especially those with sensitive skin.
Heimish’s All Clean Balm has an average rating of 4.8 out of five from over 15,000 five-star reviews on the iHerb website.
In particular, news.com.au checkout’s consumer tech writer Lauren Chaplin swears by this product.
“Simple and affordable, the balm easily melts off makeup and sunscreen, leaving skin clean without drying it out. It’s also incredibly gentle on my sensitive skin and has never once caused me to break out. Highly recommend it!”
MCoBeauty Hydrating Cleansing Oil, $25 at MCoBeauty
What You Need To Know
For just $25, you can grab the Hydrating Cleansing Oil from MCoBeauty. It works hard to remove makeup, sunscreen, oil and dirt, totally cleansing the skin with the addition of squalene, glycerine and lipids to replenish and hydrate your face.
While it’s still relatively new to the market, the Hydrating Cleansing Oil has already racked up some pretty positive reviews.
Five-star rating customers on the MCoBeauty website have called this the “best ever cleanser”, noting that it has “saved my skin and my makeup wash off routine!”
Urban Jungle Melt Me Softly Cleansing Balm, $36 at The Iconic
What You Need To Know
Make in Korea, the Melt Me Softly Cleansing Balm is a sure-fire way to melt all the unwanted things from your day. It’s crafted to be suitable for all skin types – including oily skin – and is formulated with camomile and sunflower oil extracts to keep your complexion feeling soft, supple and moisturised.
Urban Jungle’s Melt Me Softly Cleansing Balm is loved by five-star rating customers on The Iconic. Some have said it leaves their skin feeling “soft and hydrated”, while another commented “love this stuff, melts my makeup away and doesn't sting the eyes.”
CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser, $28.99 at Adore Beauty
What You Need To Know
If you’ve got dry skin and are looking for an affordable, hydrating cleanser, head straight on over to CeraVe. Like the rest of the range, this cleanser is packed with three essential ceramides to help strengthen and maintain your skin’s barrier. It’s also got niacinamide, triglycerides and squalene oils to hydrate and even out your skin’s complexion.
This CeraVe cleanser offers a 4.7 out of five rating from over 3,000 five-star customer ratings on Google Reviews.
news.com.au checkout’s Leela Landers thinks this cleanser offers the best of both worlds – “hydration and a deep clean that can wash away my layers sunscreen and make-up in the first wash!”
She adds, “I have seen such an improvement in my skin’s overall hydration since using an oil cleanser, I am a true convert!”
Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Enzyme Cleansing Balm, $57.42 at Cult Beauty
What You Need To Know
Inspired by South Korean beauty and fuelled by fruit, the Papaya Enzyme Cleansing Balm is designed to remove makeup and give you that deep clean feeling, all while leaving your face soft and smooth. Papaya works to deliver vitamin C and vitamin A to the skin, offering a slight exfoliating effect which makes sure your skin looks brighter and feels tighter.
On the Mecca website, Glow Recipe’s cleansing balm has racked up an average rating of 4.7 out of five from over 1400 five-star reviews.
This is another cleansing balm that I’ve repurchased multiple times, purely because of the texture and scent. It’s thick, balmy and melts into the skin like no other one I’ve tried. The papaya fragrance is seriously addictive and is the perfect summer scent.
Go-To Fancy Face Nourishing Oil Cleanser, $45 at Go-To Skincare
What You Need To Know
If you’ve always wanted a cleanser that doesn’t really feel like a cleanser, check out Go-To’s Fancy Face. Not only does it dissolve makeup, SPF, dirt and more, but the formulation of natural botanical oils will leave your skin feeling soft, supple and packed with vitamins and antioxidants. So as the cleanser removes the grime, it’s also replenishing your skin with all the good stuff it wants and needs.
On the Go-To website, Fancy Face has accumulated well over 2400 five star ratings.
news.com.au checkout’s Philippa Tonkin likes to think of it as equal parts skincare and self-care.
“Simply massage a couple of pumps of oil gently into the face before wiping it off with a warm muslin cloth. No aggressive rubbing or harsh chemicals necessary, your skin will thank me later.”
Dermalogica PreCleanse, $78 at Adore Beauty
What You Need To Know
Dermalogica’s PreCleanse has been part of their double cleanse system for some time now, so there’s no way it couldn’t make it on to our list. The lightweight oil does a fantastic job at breaking down makeup, sunscreen and more, before you go in with that second cleanse. It’s suitable for all skin types – normal, oily or dry and will leave your skin feeing soft and squeaky clean.
PreCleanse has racked up an average rating of 4.7 out of five on the Adore Beauty website from over 500 reviews.
news.com.au checkout’s Hannah Paine particularly loves this cleanser: “I find it so soothing and relaxing to massage into your face, all while removing every last bit of makeup you might be wearing. It’s a great first step for makeup removal before moving onto your normal cleanser.”
The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm, $19 at Sephora
What You Need To Know
A cleansing balm for under $20? Great for dry and sensitive skin? Sign us up! The Inkey List’s Oat Cleansing Balm is made with colloidal oatmeal, oat kernel oil and a bunch of ceramides to ensure your skin feels clean without feeling irritated, dry and tight. Your skin will maintain its natural protective barrier and who doesn’t want that?
This humble (and affordable) cleanser has over 1600 five star ratings on the Sephora website. I’ve also tried this one in the past, and I think it’s fantastic for the price point. You get a lot of product for just under $20 and it actually works to remove makeup and knock over that first cleanse for you. The oat is also super soothing and feels great on the skin.
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR WHEN CHOOSING A CLEANSER
Whether you’re shopping around for a cleansing balm or oil, gel cleanser or foaming cleanser, there’s a few things we recommend looking out for.
You want to make sure it’s suitable for your skin type. Your skin could be feeling sensitive, dry, oily, a combination of the two or none of the above – just make sure the cleanser is recommended for your skin type.
Dr Deshan Sebaratnam advises that simple is best.
“You don’t need to spend lots of money on skincare. I would look for something that’s gentle and relatively free of fragrances and preservatives,” he says.
And he’s right – you really don’t need to be spending a lot of money on a cleanser as it’s a product that’s simply washing your face and then literally going down the drain.
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Of course if you love the luxurious experience of a fancy cleanser, then go for it. But don’t feel pressured to splash your cash when there’s affordable brands like CeraVe on the market – I personally use the Hydrating Cream To Foam Cleanser but the brand’s whole range is incredible.
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Originally published as Best cleansing balms, oils to add to your skincare routine
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