WINTER 2026 GUIDE · UPDATED JULY 2026

The 10 Best Cleansing Balms & Milks for Winter 2026

Foaming gels can leave winter skin squeaky and tight. We tested more than 25 clean balms, milks and cleansing oils to find the ten that melt away makeup and SPF while leaving skin soft, calm and never stripped.

Curated by Erin Norden, Owner of Clean Beauty
Independently tested · Updated for winter 2026

Clean ingredient verifiedWinter-tested for 6+ weeksNever strippingCruelty-free

Jump to top picks Shop all cleansers

EDITOR'S #1 PICK

Tested for 6 weeks of winter

Featured brand Josh Rosebrook

4.9 / 5 editor score

AT A GLANCE

Skip ahead — our 10 winter cleansers

BEST OVERALLEssential Balm CleanseJosh Rosebrook$87.00

OSEA plant based cleansing milk for face in creamy coloured bottle

BEST CLEANSING MILKOcean Cleansing MilkOsea International$95.00

BEST AUSTRALIAN-MADEGentle Melt Cleansing BalmMukti Organics$76.00

BEST CLEANSING OILThe Great Cleanse Nourishing Supercritical Cleansing oilMaya Chia$80.00

BEST FOR SENSITIVEGentle Cream CleanserMV Skintherapy$54.00

BEST HYDRATING CREAMEdelweiss Extreme Hydra-Calm Cream CleanserOdacite Skincare$72.00

BEST JELLYPINK CLOUD Rosewater + Tremella Creamy Jelly CleanserHerbivore Botanicals$51.00

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BEST MILKY WASHAlmond Milk Facial CleanserThe Body Deli$60.00

BEST DAILY MILKMaking Moves Milky CleanserUrsa Major$56.00

BEST BALM-TO-MILKKissimmee Vitamin F Therapy Balmy WashHoli Frog$60.00

The 10 best cleansing balms & milks for winter, reviewed

Each cleanser below was used daily for at least four weeks of cold, dry weather. We rated how well it removed makeup and SPF, how skin felt straight after rinsing, and whether it left any tightness by mid-morning.

BEST OVERALL

Essential Balm Cleanse

Josh Rosebrook

$87.00

Texture Melting balm
Finish Clean, comfortable
Scent Soft herbal
Best for A nourishing evening double-cleanse

The balm our team reached for most. Josh Rosebrook's Essential Balm Cleanse melts from a rich balm into a silky oil, dissolving makeup and SPF while herbs and plant oils leave skin clean but never tight. Massage in, add water, wipe away with a warm cloth.

Melts away makeup and SPF
Leaves skin soft, never squeaky
Doubles as a two-minute mask
Herbal, comforting formula

Consider: Balm format – use a cloth to remove

Shop Josh Rosebrook

BEST CLEANSING MILK

Ocean Cleansing Milk

Osea International

$95.00

Texture Creamy milk
Finish Soft, calm
Scent Sea-fresh
Best for Gentle daily and sensitive skin

Osea's Ocean Cleansing Milk is winter comfort in a bottle – a creamy, algae-rich milk that lifts away grime and light makeup while leaving skin calm and hydrated. Perfect for a gentle morning cleanse or sensitive skin.

Creamy, hydrating cleanse
Algae-rich and soothing
Great for mornings and sensitive skin
Rinses clean, no residue

Consider: Not the best solo remover for heavy makeup

Shop Osea International

BEST AUSTRALIAN-MADE

Gentle Melt Cleansing Balm

Mukti Organics

$76.00

Texture Balm-to-oil
Finish Comfortable, soft
Scent Botanical
Best for Makeup melt, Aussie-made

Mukti's Gentle Melt Cleansing Balm is a certified-organic Australian balm that turns to a nourishing oil on contact, sweeping away makeup and pollution. Skin feels clean, soft and comfortable – a lovely first cleanse.

Melts makeup and pollution away
Certified organic, Australian-made
Leaves skin soft and comfortable
Beautiful first cleanse

Consider: Balm – remove with a warm cloth

Shop Mukti Organics

BEST CLEANSING OIL

The Great Cleanse Nourishing Supercritical Cleansing oil

Maya Chia

$80.00

Texture Silky cleansing oil
Finish Nourished, clean
Scent Subtle
Best for Dissolving makeup and sunscreen

Maya Chia's The Great Cleanse is a silky cleansing oil that dissolves even stubborn makeup and SPF, then emulsifies to a milk and rinses without a trace. Nourishing enough that skin feels conditioned, not stripped.

Dissolves stubborn makeup and SPF
Emulsifies and rinses clean
Conditions as it cleanses
A little covers the whole face

Consider: Oil format – massage onto dry skin first

Shop Maya Chia

BEST FOR SENSITIVE

Gentle Cream Cleanser

MV Skintherapy

$54.00

Texture Soft cream
Finish Calm, comfortable
Scent Minimal
Best for Reactive, sensitive skin

MV Skintherapy's Gentle Cream Cleanser keeps things minimal and soothing – a soft cream that cleanses without disrupting a fragile winter barrier. The pick for reactive, easily-irritated skin, and great value.

Minimal, soothing formula
Won't disrupt a fragile barrier
Soft, comforting cream
Excellent value

Consider: Gentle – double-cleanse if wearing heavy makeup

Shop MV Skintherapy

BEST HYDRATING CREAM

Edelweiss Extreme Hydra-Calm Cream Cleanser

Odacite Skincare

$72.00

Texture Hydra cream
Finish Dewy, calm
Scent Soft
Best for Dry, tight winter skin

Odacite's Edelweiss Extreme Hydra-Calm Cream Cleanser is built for skin that feels tight after washing. Edelweiss and hydrating botanicals leave skin dewy and calm – you could genuinely skip toner afterwards.

Leaves skin dewy, never tight
Edelweiss and calming botanicals
Gentle enough for daily use
Comforting on dry skin

Consider: Cream cleanser – light on heavy makeup

Shop Odacite Skincare

BEST JELLY

PINK CLOUD Rosewater + Tremella Creamy Jelly Cleanser

Herbivore Botanicals

$51.00

Texture Creamy jelly
Finish Soft, plump
Scent Rose
Best for A hydrating daily jelly cleanse

Herbivore's Pink Cloud Creamy Jelly Cleanser is a rosewater-and-tremella jelly that cushions skin as it cleanses, leaving it soft and plump rather than stripped. A gentle daily cleanser that feels like a treat.

Cushioning creamy jelly
Rosewater and tremella hydrate
Soft, plump after-feel
Lovely daily texture

Consider: Gentle – second-cleanse over an oil for makeup

Shop Herbivore Botanicals

BEST MILKY WASH

Almond Milk Facial Cleanser

The Body Deli

$60.00

Texture Milky wash
Finish Nourished, soft
Scent Almond
Best for A gentle, nourishing daily wash

The Body Deli's Almond Milk Facial Cleanser is made fresh and smells like dessert – a nourishing milky wash with almond and botanicals that leaves skin soft and fed. A comforting winter morning ritual.

Nourishing, fresh-made milk
Almond and botanical richness
Leaves skin soft and fed
Beautiful natural scent

Consider: Fresh formula – store cool, use within its window

Shop The Body Deli

BEST DAILY MILK

Making Moves Milky Cleanser

Ursa Major

$56.00

Texture Milky gel
Finish Fresh, soft
Scent Light citrus
Best for An easy everyday cleanse

Ursa Major's Making Moves Milky Cleanser is a milky gel that gently lifts away the day and preps skin for the rest of your routine. Fresh, non-stripping and easy to use – the reliable everyday choice.

Gently effective everyday cleanse
Milky gel, non-stripping
Preps skin for serums
Fresh, light finish

Consider: All-rounder – not a dedicated makeup remover

Shop Ursa Major

BEST BALM-TO-MILK

Kissimmee Vitamin F Therapy Balmy Wash

Holi Frog

$60.00

Texture Balm-to-milk
Finish Soft, nourished
Scent Subtle
Best for Dry, barrier-stressed skin

Holi Frog's Kissimmee Vitamin F Therapy Balmy Wash starts as a balm and rinses to a milk, delivering barrier-loving Vitamin F (essential fatty acids) as it cleanses. Ideal for dry, barrier-stressed skin that hates foaming washes.

Barrier-loving Vitamin F
Balm-to-milk texture
Never strips or tightens
Great for compromised skin

Consider: Richer wash – a small amount is enough

Shop Holi Frog

OUR METHODOLOGY

How we picked these cleansers

Three filters every cleanser had to clear before earning a spot on this list.

Clean ingredient screen

Every cleanser is reviewed for synthetic fragrance, harsh sulphates and hormone disruptors before it earns a place on our shelves.

Real winter testing

Used morning and night through July and August, with skin re-checked for tightness at the ten-minute and one-hour marks.

Editor + customer scores

Editorial verdicts combined with verified Clean Beauty Market customer reviews — only cleansers with a 4.5★ baseline make the cut.

COMPARE EVERY PICK

All ten cleansers, side by side

Lotion	Best for	Price	Shop
Essential Balm CleanseJosh Rosebrook	A nourishing evening double-cleanse	$87.00	Shop
Ocean Cleansing MilkOsea International	Gentle daily and sensitive skin	$95.00	Shop
Gentle Melt Cleansing BalmMukti Organics	Makeup melt, Aussie-made	$76.00	Shop
The Great Cleanse Nourishing Supercritical Cleansing oilMaya Chia	Dissolving makeup and sunscreen	$80.00	Shop
Gentle Cream CleanserMV Skintherapy	Reactive, sensitive skin	$54.00	Shop
Edelweiss Extreme Hydra-Calm Cream CleanserOdacite Skincare	Dry, tight winter skin	$72.00	Shop
PINK CLOUD Rosewater + Tremella Creamy Jelly CleanserHerbivore Botanicals	A hydrating daily jelly cleanse	$51.00	Shop
Almond Milk Facial CleanserThe Body Deli	A gentle, nourishing daily wash	$60.00	Shop
Making Moves Milky CleanserUrsa Major	An easy everyday cleanse	$56.00	Shop
Kissimmee Vitamin F Therapy Balmy WashHoli Frog	Dry, barrier-stressed skin	$60.00	Shop

WINTER CLEANSING FAQ

Your gentle-cleansing questions, answered

Why switch to a balm or milk cleanser in winter?

Foaming and gel cleansers often rely on surfactants that strip the skin's natural oils – fine in humid summer, but in winter they leave skin tight, flaky and reactive. Balms, milks and cleansing oils dissolve makeup and grime while leaving the barrier intact, so skin feels clean but still soft and comfortable.

What is double cleansing, and do I need it?

Double cleansing means using an oil or balm first (to dissolve makeup, SPF and sebum), then a gentle second cleanser if needed. If you wear makeup or sunscreen, an evening double cleanse is worth it. In the morning, most winter skin only needs a quick milk or cream cleanse – or just water.

How do I use a cleansing balm or oil?

Apply to dry skin and massage for 30–60 seconds – this is what dissolves makeup and SPF. Then add a little water to emulsify (it turns milky) and rinse, or wipe away with a warm, damp cloth. Follow with your hydrating steps while skin is still slightly damp.

Which cleanser is best for sensitive skin?

MV Gentle Cream Cleanser (#5) and Osea Ocean Cleansing Milk (#2) are our gentlest picks. Both cleanse without fragrance-heavy or stripping ingredients. Patch-test any new cleanser and avoid very warm water, which can aggravate winter sensitivity.

Are all of these clean and cruelty-free?

Yes. Every brand we stock is independently reviewed: no harsh sulphates, no synthetic fragrance, no hormone disruptors, and never tested on animals. Several are certified organic and Australian-made.

How did you test these cleansers?

Our editors used each cleanser morning and night for at least four weeks through July and August. We rated makeup and SPF removal, after-feel and any tightness at ten minutes and one hour, then cross-checked against verified customer reviews – only cleansers with a 4.5★ baseline made the cut.

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