Cleansing Balm vs Oil: The Best Choice for Your Skin

Ever thought about using oil to clean your face?

Using oil to clean your skin may seem strange and go against everything you’ve been taught. Most of us, especially those with oily skin, have been warned to stay away from products that contain oil. 

What about a cleansing balm? What is that? This article will clear up any confusion and help you decide… when it comes to your face, should you use a cleansing balm vs oil?

Cleansing Oil

Oil has been used in cleansers for quite some time as it makes it easier to remove excess oil, dirt, and makeup from your skin. Yes, oil removes oil. 

Oil cleansers have now become very popular and most skincare lines now offer several choices in their product lineup. Truth is that there are many benefits of using oil to cleanse your skin, the major one being that it eliminates the damage caused by using soap to wash your face. Using traditional soaps or detergents dries out the skin, breaks down good bacteria, and damages the lipid layer.

Using an oil cleanser helps to hydrate dry mature skin, removes impurities more effectively, and will help to break down and remove makeup. Your cleansing oil may have healing properties, important nutrients, or other skin-boosting properties, depending on the oil you choose. 

Premade oil cleansers are available online and in most drugstores and there are even some made specifically for acne-prone skin.  

You can also make your own at home. It’s common to use olive oil or castor oil or a combination of both in a one-to-one ratio. Some people add a few drops of essential oil to their cleansing oil.

Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, extra virgin olive oil is good for hydration while castor oil works as an astringent and is antibacterial.

Castor oil can cause the skin to dry out due to its astringent properties so you may want to add a few drops of a moisturizing essential oil if you choose to use it. 

Other natural oils can be used for cleansing such as jojoba oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil. Jojoba oil is especially beneficial for acne-prone skin as it helps to reduce acne and balance out the skin’s moisture. Avocado oil has beta carotene, protein, lecithin, fatty acids, and vitamins A, D & E. It not only moisturizes the skin but protects it from damaging UV rays and increases collagen metabolism.

All the oils listed below are great for skin cleansing and each come with their own benefits:-

• sweet almond oil
• grapeseed oil
• sunflower oil
• apricot kernel oil
• argan oil

How to oil cleanse

1. Put one to two teaspoons of oil in the palm of your dry clean hand
2. Apply oil to completely dry face and massage into skin for a minute or two
3. Use a damp warm rag to gently wipe away oil. If there is too much residue left, you may wash with an oil-free cleanser or just warm water
4. Pat dry with a clean towel

Cleansing Balm

Cleansing Balm has become all the rage. With oil as its foundation, it cleans away dirt and makeup, and cleans and unclogs pores. It comes in the form of a buttery cream that melts once applied to the skin and emulsifies into a milky liquid when water is applied. 

The emulsification helps to break down makeup and is very beneficial to persons who wear heavy makeup. Cleansing balms, unlike other cleaners, is safe to use on the sensitive areas of the eye because it’s made of natural ingredients that won’t cause any damage. 

Cleansing balms are especially beneficial for dry skin as it helps to moisturize skin and is packed with natural oils for added nutrients. Because it is a cream it is easier to apply than oils which may become runny and messy and cause product waste. 

How to Use a Cleansing Balm

• Scoop out some of the cream with clean dry hands or a small spatula and rub between palms to warm it
• Apply to dry face once melted and massage into skin for 30 seconds to 2 minutes
• Wet a clean soft rag with warm water and spread it over the face to open pores
• Use the rag to gently wipe away the balm. You may need to repeat this process to remove all the product effectively
• You may need to follow up with a water-based cleanser after, especially if you have oily acne-prone skin or had makeup or sunblock previously applied

Cleansing Balm vs Oil

The truth is that one is not necessarily better than the other and as with most beauty products it all depends on your skin type and what is best for it. The major difference between an oil cleanser and a balm cleanser is that one is liquid and the other solid. As they are both oil-based, the decision to choose one over the other is simply a matter of preference.