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Don’t let stubborn make-up or sunscreen ruin your skincare efforts. Try these 8 cleansing oils and balms to begin your skincare routine with ease.

8 cleansing oils (and balms) that melt away make-up, sunscreen, and other gunk

Because clean and clear pores are the key to unlocking a healthy skin barrier

When it comes to skincare habits, taking your make-up off is unquestionably important. Whether you’re indoors or outdoors, your skin is exposed to a lot of unwanted internal and external environmental aggressors such as heat, humidity, pollution, and even the air conditioner, leaving the skin’s health compromised. As a result, your skin barrier becomes susceptible to comedonal acne (blackheads and whiteheads), excess sebum secretion, blemishes, and breakouts. Deep-cleansing your skin daily is a precursor to prevent any damage from occurring. Enter: cleansing oils and balms, created to effectively double-cleanse the skin and alleviate dirt and debris that settle into your pores.

However, choosing the right cleansing oil—or balm—is key; not every cleansing oil/balm can break down waterproof make-up, sunscreen or other oil-based matter. We list down some of the best cleansing oils (and balms) that will prove handy during the festive season.

Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm, CliniqueStanding tall amongst the most-loved cleansing balms, this one from Clinique efficiently breaks down stubborn make-up without stripping the skin barrier or irritating the eyes. Loaded with fatty acids—thanks to ingredients like safflower seed oil and vitamin E—this solid balm transforms into a milky white lotion upon emulsification to gently deep-cleanse the skin.Image: Instagram.com/clinique_in

Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm, Clinique

Standing tall amongst the most-loved cleansing balms, this one from Clinique efficiently breaks down stubborn make-up without stripping the skin barrier or irritating the eyes. Loaded with fatty acids—thanks to ingredients like safflower seed oil and vitamin E—this solid balm transforms into a milky white lotion upon emulsification to gently deep-cleanse the skin.

Image: Instagram.com/clinique_in

Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil, Dear, KlairsHosting a blend of oils like jojoba oil, sesame seed oil, black currant oil, soybean oil, cranberry seed oil, shea butter, and vitamin E, this cleansing oil works wonders on melting the most tenacious make-up. However, the mild formula makes for a great first cleanse even on days when you’re not wearing make-up. The award-winning product is a suitable cleansing oil for sensitive skin and eyes too. Image: Instagram.com/klairs.global

Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil, Dear, Klairs

Hosting a blend of oils like jojoba oil, sesame seed oil, black currant oil, soybean oil, cranberry seed oil, shea butter, and vitamin E, this cleansing oil works wonders on melting the most tenacious make-up. However, the mild formula makes for a great first cleanse even on days when you’re not wearing make-up. The award-winning product is a suitable cleansing oil for sensitive skin and eyes too. 

Image: Instagram.com/klairs.global

Doubling Down Cleansing Balm, intoThis made-in-Korea cleansing balm from a new homegrown brand, into, is formulated to work as a standalone oil-based cleanser. It features potent ingredients like olive oil, sea buckthorn, turmeric root oil, sunflower seed oil, and other polyphenol-rich agents. However, following it up with a water-based cleanser can ensure absolute removal of make-up, sunscreen, and other impurities, especially if you have oily, acne-prone skin. The buttery formula is extremely gentle, ensuring the skin barrier remains healthy.Image: Instagram.com/trulyinto

Doubling Down Cleansing Balm, into

This made-in-Korea cleansing balm from a new homegrown brand, into, is formulated to work as a standalone oil-based cleanser. It features potent ingredients like olive oil, sea buckthorn, turmeric root oil, sunflower seed oil, and other polyphenol-rich agents. However, following it up with a water-based cleanser can ensure absolute removal of make-up, sunscreen, and other impurities, especially if you have oily, acne-prone skin. The buttery formula is extremely gentle, ensuring the skin barrier remains healthy.

Image: Instagram.com/trulyinto

Precleanse, DermalogicaYou can trust Dermalogica’s award-winning oil-based make-up remover to cleanse your skin effectively without requiring too much product. Enriched with ingredients like apricot kernel oil, sunflower seed oil, tomato extract, safflower seed oil, grapefruit peel oil, and many others, this citrus-scented cleansing oil doesn’t clog the pores even slightly, despite being a powerhouse of fatty acids.Image: www.dermalogica.com

Precleanse, Dermalogica

You can trust Dermalogica’s award-winning oil-based make-up remover to cleanse your skin effectively without requiring too much product. Enriched with ingredients like apricot kernel oil, sunflower seed oil, tomato extract, safflower seed oil, grapefruit peel oil, and many others, this citrus-scented cleansing oil doesn’t clog the pores even slightly, despite being a powerhouse of fatty acids.

Image: www.dermalogica.com

Pro-collagen Cleansing Balm, ElemisThe Elemis Pro-collagen Cleansing Balm is the make-up remover that can make even the most pigmented red lipstick and the most waterproof mascara disappear. Besides cleansing the skin, the balm also leaves the skin soft, plump, and nourished, owing to ingredients like collagen, elderberry oil, linolenic acid-rich starflower oil, and rose and mimosa waxes.Image: www.asos.com

Pro-collagen Cleansing Balm, Elemis

The Elemis Pro-collagen Cleansing Balm is the make-up remover that can make even the most pigmented red lipstick and the most waterproof mascara disappear. Besides cleansing the skin, the balm also leaves the skin soft, plump, and nourished, owing to ingredients like collagen, elderberry oil, linolenic acid-rich starflower oil, and rose and mimosa waxes.

Image: www.asos.com

Kumkumadi Clarifying & Brightening Cleansing Oil, Kama AyurvedaIf your skin has turned rebel towards harsh, soapy cleansers, this saffron-infused cleansing oil from Kama Ayurveda is worth a try. Made with Ayurvedic ingredients like manjistha, lotus, and saffron, this aromatic facial cleansing oil is mild enough to be used on a daily basis as well as to dissolve traces of make-up. In addition to the Ayurvedic botanicals, it features Centella Asiatica, helping mollify severely irritated or dry skin.Image:  Instagram.com/www.kamaayurveda.com

Kumkumadi Clarifying & Brightening Cleansing Oil, Kama Ayurveda

If your skin has turned rebel towards harsh, soapy cleansers, this saffron-infused cleansing oil from Kama Ayurveda is worth a try. Made with Ayurvedic ingredients like manjistha, lotus, and saffron, this aromatic facial cleansing oil is mild enough to be used on a daily basis as well as to dissolve traces of make-up. In addition to the Ayurvedic botanicals, it features Centella Asiatica, helping mollify severely irritated or dry skin.

Image:  Instagram.com/www.kamaayurveda.com

Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil, Kiehl’sThis facial cleansing oil, from one of Kiehl’s best-selling ranges, is useful for those with extremely dry, sensitive or maturing skin. The formulation features linalool, vitamin E, geranium oil, evening primrose oil, squalane, rosemary leaf oil, and soybean oil to dissolve make-up and other dirt without drying out the skin. The lightweight cleansing oil emits a soothing aroma without stinging the eyes. Image: Instagram.com/kiehlsin

Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil, Kiehl’s

This facial cleansing oil, from one of Kiehl’s best-selling ranges, is useful for those with extremely dry, sensitive or maturing skin. The formulation features linalool, vitamin E, geranium oil, evening primrose oil, squalane, rosemary leaf oil, and soybean oil to dissolve make-up and other dirt without drying out the skin. The lightweight cleansing oil emits a soothing aroma without stinging the eyes. 

Image: Instagram.com/kiehlsin

Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil, M.A.C. CosmeticsMade by a make-up house for the make-up wearer, this cleansing oil from M.A.C. Cosmetics dissipates every bit of gunk on your skin by the end of the day. With Japanese Peony extract, Tsubaki (a type of Camellia flower), jojoba and sunflower seed oils as well as Vitamin E, this cleanser barely takes any time to diffuse all the make-up. The orange-y scent is a plus.  Image: Instagram.com/maccosmeticsindia

Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil, M.A.C. Cosmetics

Made by a make-up house for the make-up wearer, this cleansing oil from M.A.C. Cosmetics dissipates every bit of gunk on your skin by the end of the day. With Japanese Peony extract, Tsubaki (a type of Camellia flower), jojoba and sunflower seed oils as well as Vitamin E, this cleanser barely takes any time to diffuse all the make-up. The orange-y scent is a plus.  

Image: Instagram.com/maccosmeticsindia

Also Read: 5 experts share eye make-up removal tips that actually work

Also Read: For how long can you wear make-up without harming your skin?

Also Read: What makes make-up waterproof?


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