I love cleansing balms, but sometimes finding an affordable cleansing balm can be hard. I have tried my fair share of cleansing balms, from the OG Korean balms to even western cleansing balms. In this post, I will review cleansing balms trying to find which cleansing balm is the best affordable cleansing balm.
But first, What is a cleansing balm?
A cleansing balm is an oil-based cleanser that is similar to a cleansing oil. They both are made of oils and they both remove the dirt and grime from your face. However, a cleansing balm usually has a balmy texture which prevents your skin from feeling stripped and tight (well.. a good cleansing balm anyways).
A cleansing balm is a great first step cleanser. However, I wouldn’t rely on cleansing balms to remove hard to remove waterproof makeup, like waterproof mascara.
Instead, I suggest a separate eye makeup remover like a micellar water to remove waterproof mascara. After removing it I would follow it up with a cleansing balm. If you don’t wear waterproof mascara you can probably use it right away
Who is cleansing balm good for?
I would say a good cleansing balm is good for most people, if not all skin types. Because of its balmy texture, it doesn’t strip your skin.
Does it clog pores?
No, a good cleansing balm shouldn’t clog your pores. But if the product doesn’t emulsify enough or if you don’t clean off your clean properly it might clog your skin.
How to use a cleansing balm
Like I mention before, I wouldn’t rely too much on a cleansing balm for makeup removal unless you wear no waterproof makeup.
To use a cleansing balm you, scoop a dime-sized amount and rub between your dry palms. You would then rub it on your dry face for about 20-30 seconds. Then wet your hand and rub your face again until the product has emulsified or when it turns white. After it has turned white, you should rinse it off with water.
Back to what this post is about…
Affordable cleansing balm
Banila co clean it zero
The OG Korean cleansing balm. If you are a long time skincare junkie you probably remember the hype for the Banila Co Clean It Zero cleansing balm. I can’t believe it came out so long ago. Everyone was raving about this cleansing balm but I never really understood it. I haven’t used it in a looong time, and I remember not liking it. I think it was either drying or it leaves a film on your face. Since this came out a long time, there are now way better cleansing balms. The Banila co Clean It zero is not my first choice, I would recommend trying something else first.
heimish All clean cleansing balm
I can’t believe it took me so long to finally try the Heimish All Clean cleansing balm. The main two reasons why I was quite reluctant was because everyone who hyped the Banilla Co Clean It Zero also liked the Heimish Cleansing Balm. The second reason because it’s was expensive.
BUT I managed to find a site that sells it for pretty cheap ~$13 USD not $25 USD. If you are a beauty junkie like me, you probably already know the site Jolse. It’s one of my go-to online beauty stores but you do need to spend a certain amount for free shipping
In short, I love this cleansing balm. Great packaging! It has a pop-up lid instead of a screw-on lid plus it easily emulsifies, doesn’t dry out your skin, and best of its affordable! Highly recommend!
physician formula matcha 3 in 1 cleansing balm
When I heard that Physician Formula had a cleansing balm, I was very intrigued. Especially since there was matcha in it. Many people were recommending it, I was pretty excited. However, I didn’t love it.
Compared to Asian cleansing balms, this just didn’t make the cut. It didn’t emulsify well and most importantly it didn’t smell like matcha.
I don’t know why but I find this cleansing balm quite pore-clogging. I searched if any of the ingredients were pore-clogging, and there weren’t. I think it is because it doesn’t emulsify well. Not my favorite cleansing balm. Not Bad, but probably won’t be purchasing again
the body shop cleansing balm
I have been using the Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing butter for years. It is a decent cleansing balm. I tend to use this one because it is so accessible AND it pretty affordable! I don’t think it as good as Heimish Cleansing balm but it just so accessible and affordable. It is a great deal especially if you stock up when they have their buy 3 and get 3 free sales. It does a decent job, it smells like chamomile which isn’t my favorite scent. It is a no-frill cleansing balm. Does a decent job cleansing and it doesn’t leave your skin dry or stripped. If you are waiting for your Asian cleansing balm to arrive, this is a decent choice.
Conclusion
After trying so many cleansing balms, I can not rave more about the Heimish Cleansing Balm. The Heimish cleansing balm is the best affordable cleansing balm. I still can’t believe it took me this long to finally use it. Defiantly a must-have. If you are new to the cleansing balm world, the Heimish cleansing balm is the one try. If you want something more accessible the Body Shop Chamomile Cleansing butter it a decent cleansing balm to try out.
Check out my other posts: Fungal Acne Safe Product under $20, or the Best Asian Sunscreen Review
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A beauty lover that loves everything about beauty and skincare. She is always on the lookout to find the new “it” product. Whether it is budget friendly or high end, she plans to share with others her beauty adventures and beauty experiences on this blog.