# Cleansing balm for dry skin

Source: HiveTried, https://hivetried.com/beauty/cleansing-balm/for-dry-skin/
Category: Beauty > Cleansing balm. Updated 2026-10-11. Based on 120 counted first-hand reports from Ulta and Sephora shopper reviews, Apr 2020 to Oct 2026.

**Question:** Which cleansing balm is good for dry skin?

**Short answer:** Banila Co Clean It Zero Original Cleansing Balm has the best record for dry skin at 17 of 17, with Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm also free of failures at 11 of 11 on a smaller group, so treat the two as a tie. Drunk Elephant Slaai Butter Cleanser follows at 16 of 17, and Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Cleansing Balm has the weakest record here at 17 of 19, which is still a high share. Each record counts just shoppers who said they have dry skin.

**What stands out:** Shoppers mention a greasy film more often for Drunk Elephant (23% of its reviews) and Glow Recipe (17%) than for Banila Co (7%) or Clinique (7%).

## Ranking (buyers who said whether it worked)

| Rank | Product | Soft, not tight | Share | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Banila Co Clean It Zero Original Cleansing Balm | 17 of 17 | 100% | yes |
| 2 | Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm | 11 of 11 | 100% | yes |
| 3 | Drunk Elephant Slaai Butter Cleanser | 16 of 17 | 94% | yes |
| 4 | Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Cleansing Balm | 17 of 19 | 89% | yes |

Ranked by the lower bound of a 90% Wilson confidence interval, so a product needs a high share and enough reports to rank high. An Amazon link is shown only when at least 60% say it works.

## Product notes

### 1. Banila Co Clean It Zero Original Cleansing Balm

Shoppers call it good value in 20% of its 30 reviews, and 37% say it caused no irritation.

- Praised for: Removes makeup (53%), No irritation (37%), Melts makeup easily (27%)
- Complaints: Greasy film (7%), Leaves makeup behind (7%)
- Reports counted: 30

### 2. Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm

Its draw is makeup removal, praised in 57% of its 30 reviews, and 23% say it melts makeup easily, though 10% say it stings their eyes.

- Praised for: Removes makeup (57%), No irritation (37%), Melts makeup easily (23%)
- Complaints: Stings eyes (10%), Leaves makeup behind (7%), Greasy film (7%)
- Reports counted: 30

### 3. Drunk Elephant Slaai Butter Cleanser

Among its 30 reviews, 40% praise how it removes makeup, and 7% complain about the smell.

- Praised for: Removes makeup (40%), No irritation (13%), No greasy film (7%)
- Complaints: Greasy film (23%), Smell (7%)
- Reports counted: 30

### 4. Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Cleansing Balm

More shoppers with dry skin stated a result for it than for any other balm here, 19 in all. Easy melting comes up in 17% of its 30 reviews.

- Praised for: Removes makeup (33%), Melts makeup easily (17%), No irritation (10%)
- Complaints: Greasy film (17%)
- Reports counted: 30

## Questions

**Which cleansing balm works for dry skin?**

Banila Co Clean It Zero Original Cleansing Balm has the best record (17 of 17), followed by Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm (11 of 11), Drunk Elephant Slaai Butter Cleanser (16 of 17) and Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Cleansing Balm (17 of 19). The first two had no failures, so their order comes down to group size, and the last two are close.

**Do these records show how well each balm removes makeup?**

Not on their own. Each record is about whether the balm cleaned dry skin and left it soft and comfortable, not tight. Makeup removal still draws praise for every balm here, from 33% of Glow Recipe's reviews to 57% of Clinique's.

**Do these records test what is in each balm?**

No. The counts are what shoppers with dry skin said after using each balm, not a test of ingredients or of how skin reacts, so follow the label directions.

**Which of these cleansing balms are sold on Amazon?**

Banila Co Clean It Zero Original Cleansing Balm, Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm, Drunk Elephant Slaai Butter Cleanser and Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Cleansing Balm are all sold on Amazon by the brand or Amazon itself, and Banila Co Clean It Zero Original Cleansing Balm is both the leader and the best pick sold on Amazon.

## Method

HiveTried counts first-hand reports only, drops reviews written for free products, shows brand-site reviews without counting them, and never accepts payment for placement. Full method: https://hivetried.com/how-we-count/