Choosing between a cleansing milk and a cleansing balm depends largely on your skin's needs and the specific step in your cleansing routine. While both are designed to cleanse, they often excel at different tasks.
Based on expert recommendations, cleansing balms are typically more effective for the initial cleansing step, especially when removing makeup, sunscreen, and stubborn impurities.
Cleansing balms are usually oil-based. This composition allows them to effectively dissolve oil-soluble substances like makeup, sunscreen, and excess sebum.
Cleansing milks, on the other hand, are often water-based. While they are gentle and good at removing general impurities and dirt, they can be less effective at removing makeup than an oil-based cleanser like a balm. Cleansing milk still gets to work on any impurities and traces of dirt.
For a thorough cleanse, especially if you wear makeup or sunscreen, it is often recommended using [cleansing milk] after using a Vegan Oil-Based Cleansing Balm to get the most out of your skincare routine. This approach, known as double cleansing, leverages the strengths of both types of cleansers.
Cleansing Milk vs. Cleansing Balm Comparison
Here’s a quick comparison based on their typical properties and uses:
| Feature | Cleansing Milk | Cleansing Balm |
|---|---|---|
| Base | Often Water-Based | Oil-Based |
| Primary Use | Removing impurities, gentle cleanse, second cleanse | Removing makeup, sunscreen, sebum, first cleanse |
| Effectiveness on Makeup | Can be less effective than oil-based | Highly effective at dissolving makeup |
| Texture | Light, creamy, lotion-like | Solid or semi-solid, melts into oil on contact |
| Rinse | Can sometimes be tissued off, but rinsing is recommended | Typically rinsed off with water (often emulsifies) |
| Ideal for | Dry, sensitive, or reactive skin; second cleanse | All skin types, especially effective for heavy makeup/sunscreen removal |
The Power of Double Cleansing
The recommendation to use cleansing milk after a cleansing balm highlights the effectiveness of double cleansing.
- First Cleanse (often with Balm): Breaks down and removes oil-based impurities like makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil.
- Second Cleanse (often with Milk): Removes any remaining traces of dirt, impurities, and residue, leaving the skin feeling clean and refreshed without stripping it.
Using a balm first ensures heavy debris is lifted, allowing the milk to effectively cleanse the skin itself.
Which is "Better"?
In the context of removing makeup and initial grime, a cleansing balm is often considered more effective due to its oil-based composition. However, cleansing milk is excellent for a gentle second cleanse and for skin that doesn't require heavy makeup removal. Therefore, neither is universally "better"; they serve different, often complementary, purposes in a skincare routine. For many, using both offers the most effective cleansing results.
