And while I love the tender act of massaging in a dense face cream or slipping on an oil at night, there is nothing I appreciate more than washing my face. Yes, it’s a semi-controversial skin care take (as controversial as those can be), but it’s true: I love the ritual of cleaning my skin. But now, there are so many that experiment with textures, infuse deliciously hydrating actives, and elevate sensorial experiences—and finally, they’re getting due attention. There’s no better example of this than the cleansing balm. (Even saying “cleansing balm” feels like slipping into a cashmere sweater.) The subcategory of face washes is marked by their thick, gel-cream texture and hydrating benefits; of course, there are subtle differences between them that make them unique, but that’s the throughline. Now, if all of the above has you thinking you need to get your hands on one, here are our favorites for you to try. Enjoy, won’t you? Counter+ Lotus Glow Cleansing Balm, Beautycounter ($72) Royal Tulip Cleansing Jelly, Bloomeffects ($39) The Cleansing Balm, Augustinus Bader ($74) Beauty Milk Melt Vegan Oat Cleanser, BYBI ($17) La Lune de Velours, Argentum Apothecary ($138) Cleansing Balm, John Masters Organic ($36) Dissolve Cleansing Balm, Versed Day ($17.99) Sweet Almond Cleansing Oil Balm, Nyakio ($25) Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm, Farmacy ($47.69) Blood Orange Cleansing Balm, 100% Pure ($39) Oil-to-Milk Cleanser, Cocokind ($18.99) Cleansing Balm, Good Molecules ($15) Nourishing Cleansing Balm, Haoma ($85)
