Are cleansing balms oil based?

You have been wondering, are cleansing balms oil based ? If they are, why didn't my skin feel greasy?

A cleansing balm cleanses and hydrates your skin at the same time. Unlike your usual cleanser, a cleansing balm never foams. It will not produce bubbles!

Even though there are no bubbles, it can still remove:

  • dirt
  • oil
  • makeup

What is a cleansing balm?

A cleansing balm is a cleanser that does not strip moisture off your skin. A cleansing balm is so effective in removing dirt and makeup because it contains emulsifiers that bind with both the water and oil from your skin.

Instead of washing your face with water, you can simply wipe your skin with a face towel or a facial tissue!

Who can use cleansing balm?

Everyone!

If you apply heavy makeup, cleansing balms are especially good for you. It helps remove excess pigments and oils from your skin.

Cleansing balms work on kids' skin too. Because their skin is so soft and delicate, common cleansers can make their skin dry.

So if your kids are attending special events like prom or Halloween parties, a vegan cleansing balm like this one, is able to remove the makeup.

So, are cleansing balms oil based or not?

You can make a cleansing balms from oils and butters... but the results is going to leave your skin a little bit greasy.

As a result, you need to do a double cleanse to remove the greasiness which can be a hassle to some of you.

So, to avoid this, most manufacturers use Esters and small amounts of oils only.

A cleansing balm is usually anhydrous but you can also make it into an emulsion.

Here's what it may contain:

  • Esters - Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
  • W/O Emulsifiers - Polyglyceryl-2 Sesquicaprylate, Sorbitan Oleate
  • Botanical Oils - Grapeseed oil , Sunflower Seed
  • Surfactants that work with oils - PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate (Vegan but not Organic)
  • Wax - Candelilla, Ozokerite
  • Emollients - Ethylhexyl Palmitate
  • Botanical Extracts - Rosa Damascena
  • Antioxidants - Tocopherol
  • Preservatives - Phenoxyethanol
  • Fragrances - Essential Oils
  • Humectants - Butylene Glycol, Glycerin

As you can see, it can contain a variety of ingredients! The 2 crucial ingredients are the Esters/Oils and Emulsifiers.

When you cleanse your face with a balm, the emulsifiers will combine the water and oil parts together to create an emulsion. Thus, removing dirt and makeup away from your skin.

A good example of emulsifiers that some brands use are Polyglyceryl-2 Sesquicaprylate and PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate. 

Which cleansing balm has become your favorite?

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