8 Best Tried and True Japanese Cleansing Balms in 2023 (Duo, Santa Marche, and More)

Most cleansing balms come off using either of these two methods: rinsing it off with water or wiping it off with something such as a cotton pad. We'd recommend a rinse off type if you use it during your nightly bathing routine; if you're more interested in removing makeup quickly, a wipe away type would suit you better.

However, since using wipe away types incorrectly can create friction and lead to skin irritation quickly, we prefer rinse off cleansing balms for those with dry or sensitive skin. 

There are also types that you can rinse or wipe away, so keep your eyes peeled for a balm that suits your lifestyle.

Many cleansing balms allow you to take off all of your makeup and retain moisture with just one application, which makes them great for those that don't want to spend a lot of time on skincare.

They reduce friction to your skin caused by washing and keep your skin moisturized, making them especially great for those with dry or sensitive skin.

However, if you're concerned with your skin feeling sticky or heavy post-rinse, we'd suggest trying a double wash. Leftover oil on skin can lead to acne and other blemishes, so watch your moisture and oil levels carefully to find the perfect amount of rinses for you.

By the way, balms that don't require double cleansing will often say "W洗顔不要" on the product label.

Some cleansing balms feel more like a lip balm while others have a sherbet-like texture. You can choose your preferred texture or match it with the current weather.

If you're going to use it as a facial massage agent, we'd recommend a balm that spreads easily over the skin; balms with small particles in them can act like a facial scrub for dirt in the pores in areas such as around your nose as well.

Since texture is difficult to test when you're shopping primarily online, we recommend reading reviews to get a better idea.

Most people are quick to assume that "additive-free" means a product is good for your skin, but that's not always the case. What's more, there may still be additives; they just haven't listed them in the "additive-free" section.

Products are considered additive-free only if they contain absolutely none of that ingredient (such as scents or dyes), so sometimes the ingredients put in place of them can irritate your skin. We recommend not being hooked by the phrase "additive-free" and instead checking which specific ingredients are non-additive.

These are some ingredients that could potentially irritate your skin:

• Alcohol/ethanol (アルコール/エタノール)
• Synthetic perfumes (合成香料)
• Synthetic dyes (合成着色料)
• Preservatives like benzoic acid and parabens (防腐剤 (安息香酸、パラベン類))

Mineral oils (鉱物油) can also dry out your skin.

Note: Not all parabens are irritating. Each maker sets its safety guidelines for each item and tests them thoroughly. Antibacterial parabens or a large quantity of parabens can potentially cause skin irritation, though, so you should exercise caution with them.

Eyelash extensions are attached to your eyelids with glue, so oils from cleansers can cause weaken the glue and cause your extensions to come off more quickly. It's safe to say that cleansing balms with a high oil content are probably not safe for eyelash extensions.

Balms that are okay for eyelash extensions will often have that written on the package. However, sometimes they specify the types of eyelash glue that they're suitable for, so it's a good idea to know what kind of glue your extensions use before purchasing a cleansing balm.