Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm review: is it still worth it this winter?

Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm is one of the classic first steps of a double cleanse, and it is back in the conversation as the weather turns and people reach for richer ways to take off makeup and sunscreen. The experts we follow are warm on it. It holds a Guru Score of 77% across 15 experts: 13 said yes, 1 was mixed and 1 said no. No cleansing balm we track has more experts behind it. Here is what they like, what gave two of them pause, and which balms and oils they rate even higher.

Is Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm worth it?

For most of the experts we follow, yes. 13 of the 15 who reviewed it said yes, which gives it a Guru Score of 77%. That score sits a little below the top balms on the site because one expert said no and another was mixed, not because the fans are lukewarm. It is also one of the most reviewed cleansers we track, so this is a well tested read rather than an early one.

The longest record comes from Dr Dray, who has come back to it again and again. She calls it "a classic cleansing balm recommendation that is a really good product and continues to be a standout from this brand." Dr. Shereene Idriss calls it "a classic I love", and this autumn still points people who wear heavier makeup to it, saying "you probably want something a little bit stronger like Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm or Tatcha's Camellia Oil."

What do the experts like about it?

Three things come up again and again: no fragrance, a simple formula, and how well it shifts stubborn makeup. Dr Dray says "it really is nice to use, especially for breaking up mascara, for breaking up eye makeup, and also for helping to facilitate removal of water resistant sunscreen." Dr. Jenny Liu says it "gently removes everything without stripping your skin barrier at the same time", and Doctorly, the two dermatologists behind the channel, call it "very gentle" and "probably in my top three cleansing balms."

It also copes with heavy looks. Caroline Hirons reaches for it to remove stage makeup, saying "that's the best thing for that kind of stage makeup. It's grease, it really is." Mixed Makeup says "This gets off waterproof mascara and it should be the first step in your double cleansing routine."

Dr Dray also adds a comfort point for reactive skin: "If you've got irritated skin going on or really a lot of sensitivity, this doesn't sting the way makeup removers can." That is one expert's experience, so if your skin is very reactive or you have a skin condition, it is worth asking a pharmacist or doctor before you switch cleansers.

Why did some experts hold back?

The one no came from Hyram, and his reason is texture: "Personally on me it leaves a little bit of a film on my skin, and other people I've talked to who've used it feel the same." He says he prefers balms with a more oil based, nourishing formula, though he also calls it gentle and good at removing makeup.

The mixed verdict came from James Welsh, and his doubt is value rather than performance. He calls it "iconic" and says "it gets the job done", but adds "There's nothing in here that makes me think, wow, this is a cleansing balm worth paying more for" and "I just think there are much cheaper alternatives." Dr Dray, a fan, makes a similar point in one review, noting "there's so many more affordable alternatives these days."

One more note for acne-prone skin. Dimma Umeh has used it for years, but says that when she wore makeup every day she was breaking out, "and then I realized that the cause was actually the Clinique cleansing balm." Her advice is that occasional use suits her better. Skin varies, so if you are prone to breakouts and they get worse, talk to a pharmacist or doctor.

How do you use it in a double cleanse?

Most of the fans use it as step one, then follow with a gentle cleanser. Darnell Cox says "I love the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm for the first step of a double cleanse in the evening." Dr. Aanchal MD melts it over her eyes to lift waterproof mascara, then washes with a cleanser.

Mixed Makeup suggests warming it first: "Warm that up, don't put it directly onto your eyelashes and onto your eye makeup. Warm it up, turn it into an oil and you're going to get so much more out of that." And Dr Dray points out that it contains a surfactant, "so you don't want to leave it on indefinitely."

Which cleansing balms and oils do the experts rate higher?

Geek & Gorgeous 101 Mighty Melt Cleansing Balm, Guru Score 95% from 11 experts. It answers Hyram's complaint directly. Doctor Anne says it "rinses absolutely clean without the need for a wash cloth", and Mad About Skin says "It's not one of those balms that leaves a film on the skin." It is also the swap the experts name when cost is the question.

Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm, Guru Score 87% from 11 experts. A richer, more indulgent balm, and Hyram's own favourite: "If you want a nourishing, soft skin experience without that film left over on your skin, that one's great." Unlike the Clinique, it carries fragrance, which Hyram flags himself, and Kelly Driscoll said no because she found it left "kind of like a waxy sort of residue".

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil, Guru Score 87% from 10 experts. For anyone who prefers an oil to a balm. Dr. Jenny Liu calls it "a great alternative if you don't like balm and prefer the oil in a pump", and No BS Beauty says "It's really nice for winter or for dry skin." She also notes a slight scent from the rosemary oil in it.

The bottom line

Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm earns its classic status: a Guru Score of 77%, with 13 of 15 experts saying yes for its fragrance free, simple formula and the way it melts off mascara and sunscreen. If a film on your skin bothers you, or you want more for your money, the experts point to Geek & Gorgeous 101 Mighty Melt Cleansing Balm at 95%, or DHC Deep Cleansing Oil at 87% if you would rather use an oil. For more, see the best cleansers for dry skin and Dr Dray on cleansers.