One thing to note, though, is that because it’s infused with so many essential oils, it does feel a bit oily. Our tester has oily, acne-prone skin and enjoyed using it, albeit sparingly. She thinks it's best suited for those with normal to dry skin. Absolutely! Just because cleansing balm works especially well to remove makeup doesn’t mean it can’t be used as an effective cleanser on bare skin. According to ​​Dr. Liu, cleansing balms offer a gentle solution for removing sunscreen, oil, dirt, and any other lingering debris, too — all without over-drying the skin, like so many classic gel and cream cleansers do.

If you love the ritual of a double cleanse and want to add a cleansing balm to your routine, look no further than the Wander Beauty B.O.M Voyage Cleansing Balm. Designed with a texture similar to petroleum jelly, the balm emulsifies effortlessly into skin to remove all non-waterproof makeup and sunscreen. “The texture makes it easier to rub around the eyes, but it didn’t remove my waterproof mascara,” admits our tester. Though she wasn’t able to double cleanse during the test, she thinks this product would be the perfect first step to any cleansing routine because it left her skin feeling extremely soft. “This would work great as part of a team of products, but individually, I think you could find better out there.” Honestly, when I first saw the balm I was a slightly intimated. Would it be hard to use? Would it really remove all my makeup, even mascara?! Of all the cleansing balms available, there are plenty of inexpensive options. In fact, some of our experts' favorites are not the higher priced brands. "As a dermatologist who also formulates skincare products, I think a wide variety of products, from over-the-counter drugstore brands to medical-grade skincare, can be effective," says Mona Mislankar, MD, FAAD, a board certified dermatologist and co-founder of Oath MD. "The more costly it is does not tell us much about the product at all; the formulation is the most important." Ingredients

“They wanted to create ‘luxury-quality’ skincare that was transparent, interesting and accesibles.”

We appreciated that this gel-like cleansing balm felt soft and comforting on our skin, but it wasn’t oily enough to effectively break down and remove makeup. To summarise my JUNO Skin Cleansing Balm review, I think the cleansing balm is great! I really love the fresh scent, how easy it is to apply, how the formula turns into an oil, and easily removes all my makeup and SPF. JUNOCO explains:“We make it our mission to create superfood, super-powered, and super clean skincare that helps bring out your own unique glow. Working with the most advanced labs worldwide, our natural ingredients are luxurious biology-centric formulas designed to work with your complexion.” Cleansing balms are cleansers that use oils and emollients to remove dirt, makeup, and buildup from the day without the need for harsh scrubbing," says board-certified dermatologist Carmin Castilla. "They are able to cleanse without stripping the skin of its natural oils and damaging your skin barrier." While most skin types will still want to go in with your usual face wash after using a cleansing balm, these formulas make the entire getting unready process so much easier.

It removed some oiliness but did not strip my skin or make it feel dry and taut,” she assures us. In fact, she says that it works so well that she feels it performs perfectly on its own, ridding the need for a double cleanse. “My skin looks and feels great after using this,” she marvels. “I feel like I've done no damage to my skin since I barely even needed to scrub.” One thing she points out, though, is that it does have a faint floral scent. So, sensitive-nosed skincare lovers, beware. But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square. Not only do products need to avoid irritating my skin, but they also need to leave my skin better off. That’s the point, right?

That’s when I start to apply it around my face and eyes softly. My eye area is very sensitive, but I can use this cleansing balm on and around my eyes without any problem. I never noticed irritation, stinginess, or tight skin in general. Effectiveness aside, this cleansing balm comes in a tube, which makes it convenient for daily use as well as during travel. You don’t need a little spatula to scoop it out — just squeeze and go. Our tester double-cleanses on a daily basis, even after wearing face sunscreen only. However, the Elemis balm did a great job of breaking down sunscreen and even waterproof makeup with ease on its own. As a result, we're giving this the award for Best for Eye Makeup as it completely melted away even stubborn waterproof mascara. With gentle lactic and azelaic acids and naturally exfoliating ginger and turmeric at the helm of this formula, this transformative balm works well to slough away dead skin cells as well as built-up makeup and oil to reveal silky smooth skin beneath.

When it's time to remove the day's makeup — and dirt, oil, and everything else you don't want to go to sleep wearing — a cleansing balm may be a great addition to your nighttime routine. "A cleansing balm is an oil-based formula that helps break down even the most stubborn makeup without any tugging," L.A.-based makeup artist and content creator Ourfa Zinali tells PEOPLE Tested. "It does the same thing a cleansing oil does, however, it's less messy; think of them as sisters. It can also be used on bare skin to remove any impurities, SPF, etc. at the end of your day." Though the product contains no synthetic fragrance, we found the scent to be slightly unpleasant, almost chemical-like. That’s not to say that cleansing balms aren’t beneficial for dry skin, too, though. “Since cleansing balms are rich in nourishing oils, they are especially great for dry skin, and you do not have to worry about them drying out or stripping the skin,” Dr. Hammerman says. Cleansing balms are great for all skin types. “They are excellent for anyone with redness and/or sensitive skin because they calm and soothe,” Tavernise says. “Cleansing balms are also good for those with oily skin who sometimes tend to dry out their skin with harsh products to attempt to clear the acne.” We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.If your regular makeup routine includes liquid eyeliner, waterproof mascara, and a full-coverage foundation that promises to last all day, we’d bet that you’ve felt challenged to remove it at least once in your life. On one hand, that’s great, because it means that you’ve finally found products that live up to their all-day claims; on the other, it’s not so great, because it might prompt you to rub and scrub your complexion to smithereens in hopes of getting it clean. The stand out (so far) is the cleansing balm with only ten ingredients but delivers a perfect cleanse. Juno is founded in California and is 100% focussed on Gen Z (approx up to age 25) hence a big TikTok presence and a collaboration with Spongebob Squarepants (waitlist of 63K apparently) that put them in front of the eyes of their target audience. It’s been growth ever since and can only be a matter of time before its ready for sale. Juno Skin Review The best part? It’s super hydrating, too. “I have dry skin — like, DRY, dry skin,” our tester says. “I haven't tried many cleansers that don't leave me feeling stripped (yes, even cleansing balms), but this one left me feeling soft with some of the most minimal drying that I've ever experienced. I'm a huge fan.” Tatcha The Rice Wash: A somewhat creamier texture and way more expensive, but still a good alternative is this Tatcha Rice Wash. If you’re open to spending some extra money and want an effective second cleanser, this one will do the job and works well after the JUNOCO cleansing balm.