The Cleanse: Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm

Adding to my ongoing series of ongoing series', The Cleanse is a collection of my favorite cleansers.

Cleanser are, in my routinely humbled opinion, the most important step in a skin care regimen. While moisturizers, serums, toners, spot treatments, eye creams (the list goes on) might, by nature of their application and ingredients, do "more" for the skin, cleansers allow these products to function and their intended processes to occur. Further, a good cleanser will leave your skins' defense intact, ensuring optimal protection against bacteria and the likes. Cleansers really are the foundation upon which any effective routine are built; and yes, I do mean cleansers plural, because no, you cannot rely on only one.

As I am sure you already know, balm cleansers are all the rage, though they're not exactly new. Clinique's Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm is a truly beautiful product. It does exactly as it states, contains few (if any) problematic ingredients, has a great price point ($28.50 for 3.8 fl oz/ 125 ml), has a wonderfully balmy texture, and is housed in a relatively chic package. Best for normal to very dry skin types, this balm becomes an oil upon contact with the skin, spreading easily and dissolving  makeup in seconds. I would advise a second cleanse for most skin types, unless you're very dry - as with most balms, removing all traces with water alone is rather difficult. For the record, I have very oily skin and can still use this without concern.

Have you tried any cleansing balms yet?