If you’ve never tried a cleansing balm before, here’s what to know: the formulas are solid at room temperature and once you emulsify them with water, they end up being thicker in consistency than traditional foam cleansers. Importantly: they’re usually oil-based instead of water-based, too, which is why many people love to do a double-cleansing process with them.
Many experts have recommended Elemis’ formulas to us over the years, and it’s also a staff favorite. It’s designed to purify the skin — getting rid of any makeup, sweat buildup or grime — without leaving it tight and stripped, and works for those with oily, sensitive, and/or delicate skin types, according to the brand. “It’s gentle enough for day-to-day washing and actually leaves my skin feeling moisturized instead of dry like a lot of cleansers do,” says NBC Select editorial operations associate Jem Alabi. “It has a slight film, and the product goes a long way.”
The full-sized version is also 20% off right now.
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Lindsay Schneider is an editor for NBC Select who oversees our Select 100 packages (including our ranking of the 100 best face moisturizers and 100 best face SPFs) and has written about skin care for years. The NBC Select editorial team has also been covering the cleanser category at large extensively and frequently writes about Elemis and other cleansing balms and related products.
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