Double cleansing—removing makeup, dirt, sunscreen, grease and grime with an oil-based cleanser first, then following with a traditional water-based cleanser tailored to your skin’s specific needs—is the gold standard for a healthy complexion. Micellar water, liquid oils and wipes can technically work as a first step, but if you’re over 40, the extra nourishment a velvety cleansing balm delivers is worth it.
Here’s why: Cleansing balms use oils and emollients to melt away makeup and buildup—no harsh scrubbing or tugging required (two big ways to worsen fine lines and wrinkles). Formulated with vitamin E, plant and seed oils, shea butter, bisabolol and ceramides, they cleanse without stripping the skin or compromising the moisture barrier, leaving skin soft and supple after rinsing. Solid and dense, they’re also mess-free and travel-friendly.
Of course, not all cleansing balms are created equal. When it comes to formulas that work best on aging skin, shoppers over 40 are clear on four that do it all—reducing dryness, minimizing the look of fine lines and helping skin appear firmer and plumper. Below, we rounded up the best cleansing balms for mature skin, according to shoppers 40 and over.
The Best Cleansing Balms for Mature Skin, According to Shoppers Over 40
1 / 8
CLINIQUE Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm ($44)
Clinique's beloved fragrance-free cleansing balm uses safflower seed oil to quickly remove layers of makeup, SPF and dirt fast. Not only do reviewers say it leaves skin baby-soft, but several shoppers with sensitive skin say it never irritates their skin or eyes.
BUY ON AMAZON - $44
BUY ON ULTA - $44
2 / 8
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm ($72)
One of the OG cleansing balms, Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm combines elderberry and rose oils to dissolve makeup and sunscreen thoroughly. It's rich, velvety and thick, making it a favorite among those with very dry skin. It's also lightly fragranced; several reviewers commented that the scent reminds them of being at a spa.
BUY ON SEPHORA - $72
BUY ON NORDSTROM - $72
3 / 8
Augustinus Bader The Cleansing Balm ($81)
Made with the brand's signature TFC8® technology (a complex of natural amino acids, high-grade vitamins and peptides), The Cleansing Balm also adds vitamin E, coconut oil and bisabolol to its formula for a deep clean and boost of hydration and nourishment.
BUY ON AUGUSTINUS BADER - $81
BUY ON NORDSTROM - $81
4 / 8
BANILA CO Clean it Zero Firming Cleansing Balm ($25)
Of all the K-beauty cleansing balms, Banila Co.'s Clean It line earns top honors for its version specifically formulated for firming aging skin. This ceramide-rich version is made with moringa ceramide and panthenol to firm, strengthen, moisturize and boost skin cell turnover as it cleanses.
BUY ON AMAZON - $25
BUY ON TARGET - $25
5 / 8
U Beauty The MANTLE Skin Conditioning Wash ($78)
We shouldn't be surprised that U Beauty created a cleansing balm that acts like a double cleanse and makeup remover in one—they are the brand behind the multitasking Resurface Compound (retinol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and more in one bottle), after all. The MANTLE deep cleans and conditions skin with humectants and alphahydroxy acids, so you're never left with that dry, tight-feeling post-cleansing.
BUY ON U BEAUTY - $78
BUY ON VIOLET GREY - $78
6 / 8
Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm ($39)
This K-beauty balm is a cult favorite for leaving skin "sorbet-soft," thanks to its oil-based formula that melts away makeup, sunscreen and oil, with antioxidant-rich seaberry oil, healing vitamin E and nourishing olive and grapeseed oils.
BUY ON SEPHORA - $39
BUY ON SOKO GLAM - $39
7 / 8
EADEM Dew Dream Cleansing Balm ($34)
EADEM's Dew Dream is technically not a "balm"—it's a jelly-to-oil-to-milk formula that expertly melts off dirt and makeup then slips off skin like a dream leaving no residue behind. With Tiger Grass (also known as cica or centella asiatica), moringa, melon and allantoin, skin is nourished, calm, soft and thoroughly clean of every trace of oil, dirt, makeup and SPF.
BUY ON EADEM - $34
BUY ON SEPHORA - $34
8 / 8
True Botanicals Ginger Turmeric Cleansing Balm ($52)
A dual-phase blend of oils and butters (including yucca extract and mango) blends with lactic and azelaic acids to deeply clean skin while providing gentle exfoliation too. The result is brighter, smoother, clearer, pillow-soft skin. Bonus: a subtle scent of gingerroot, mandarin and neroli oils transforms a routine face cleaning into to spa-like experience.
BUY ON TRUE BOTANICALS - $52
BUY ON CREDO BEAUTY - $52
