The Best Cleansing Balms to Get Rid of Grime Without Drying Out Skin

Practically anyone can benefit from incorporating a cleansing balm into their skin-care routine, but there are a few key differences in how it should be done, depending on your skin type and condition. Folks who have dry, sensitive skin or experience stinging, burning, or tightness after using liquid cleansers can often benefit from the ultra-hydrating, non-stripping nature of cleansing balms, says Dr. Garshick. The same goes for people who have inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, rosacea, or psoriasis, adds Purvisha Patel, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Visha Skincare. "A cleansing balm might be more fitting for them because the skin barrier is already compromised...and a balm can help restore some of the lipid into the barrier," she explains. In these instances, you can often skip the typical final step in a cleansing routine: Removing the product with water. "When you apply it to the skin, you can just massage it, apply a damp cloth [to wipe it off] at the end, and then that's it," says Dr. Garshick. "You don't have to do anything more for your cleansing routine." (Of course, recommendations vary from product to product, so if your balm's instruction label specifically says to rinse after application, follow that advice.) People who have oily skin or are wearing a thick layer of makeup or sunscreen, however, will likely want to follow up with a liquid face wash, suggests Dr. Garshick. The cleansing balm will help pick up some of the excess oil on the skin and effectively remove makeup, while the second cleanse will ensure all the gunk is fully cleared out of the pores. "In general, people who tend to be on the oily side [can often] handle that extra step with the water-based cleanser without feeling dry or irritated subsequently," she says. The easiest way to tell if you may benefit from a double-cleanse: Take note of how your skin feels. "The goal of cleansing should really never be to feel tight or stripped, so if you're ever feeling that way, that means that whatever you're doing is not the right option for you," says Dr. Garshick. If your skin feels like it's being pulled taut after using a cleansing balm and a liquid cleanser, ditch the second step. On the flipside, if you solely use a cleansing balm and your skin feels like it's still covered in makeup and grime, try doing in an additional cleanse, she says. (Try these salicylic acid face washes to de-gunk your clogged pores.)

Instead of splurging on the first cleansing balm you see, make sure you choose one that's a fit for your skin type and condition. Folks who have oily or acne-prone skin will generally want a cleansing balm that's labeled "non-comedogenic" and is free from notoriously pore-clogging ingredients such as coconut oil, says Dr. Garshick. On the flip side, people with sensitive skin should try to avoid fragrances and essential oils — even if they're NBD for other people, adds Dr. Patel. "These can be very irritating to a compromised barrier," she says. "If your skin barrier is not intact, which means it's got little cracks in the surface...you could have a [poor] reaction to certain ingredients that most people may not."

To kick-off your hunt for the perfect oil-busting, skin-nourishing product, shop Dr. Garshick's and Dr. Patel's picks for the best cleansing balms below.