Pre-Gleanse Cleansing Balm

The first cleanse is the one most people rush, which is a shame, because it does the heavy lifting. Sunscreen and long-wear makeup do not respond to water and a foaming wash, and what gets left behind sits on the skin overnight. This balm handles that step properly and rinses away without leaving anything of its own behind.

The texture is plush and solid in the jar, turning to a light oil the moment it meets warm hands and then emulsifying into a milk as soon as water is introduced. The rinse is the part worth noting. Balms have a habit of leaving a faint slip that pushes people towards a harsher second cleanse, and a set of modern glycerin and sorbitol-derived surfactants means this one simply goes, leaving skin soft rather than coated.

The formula is anhydrous and fragrance-free, with bisabolol and centella to calm, ectoin to hold on to water, and a vitamin F blend of linoleic and linolenic acids supporting the barrier through the process. It is comfortable enough around the eyes to take off mascara, and light enough that oilier skin will not feel weighed down by it.

Best for

Removing SPF and long-wear makeup as the first step of a double cleanse. Suits all skin types, including oily, sensitive and reactive skin.

How to use

With dry hands, massage a generous amount over dry skin, including the eye area, to dissolve makeup and impurities. Add a little warm water to emulsify, then rinse thoroughly. Follow with a second cleanse.

Key ingredients

Bisabolol is a calming bioactive with antioxidant properties, useful in a step that involves a fair amount of massaging. Ectoin, derived from amino acids, is a strong humectant that helps skin hold water through cleansing. Vitamin F, a blend of linoleic and linolenic acids, supports the barrier and helps skin look calm. Centella asiatica and ubiquinone round out the soothing and antioxidant side.