NYX Stripped Off Cleansing Balm Review

NYX Stripped Off Cleansing Balm ($14) us a new cleansing balm that recently released NYX Stripped Off Micellar Cleansing Water, NYX Stripped Off Whipped Charcoal Cleanser, and other products in their new skincare collection that launched for Spring 2017.

Like many of you, I love Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm although, I must admit recently Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm has been taking over many of my other cleansing balms!

I think a lot of people are slightly wary of cleansing balm as like cleansing oil they feel it’ll leave their face greasy. I get it! I mean asking someone to smear what essentially feels like petroleum jelly all over their face can be a little scary. But honestly, since trying my beloved Banila Co Clean It Zero I’ve been hooked!

Check out my review of NYX Stripped Off Cleansing Balm below.

NYX Stripped Off Cleansing Balm is 3.52 oz in size and comes in a black plastic jar. This is a generous size with a small price tag as Clinique’s formula is a smidge bigger at 3.8 oz but it’ll also set you back $29.

If you’ve need used a cleansing balm before they are fairly simple to work with. The formula is a solid balm but has a soft consistency that reminds me of petroleum. You’ll scoop a small amount out of the jar and apply it to your dry face. You don’t have to remove you makeup as this obviously acts to break up makeup but I tend to remove my eyeshadow, mascara, before I do any cleansing. Although, some people actually just rely on the cleansing balm to remove all that as well. The soft, balmy consistency of the cleanser breaks down as you rub it around your face. After you’ll add a little water to emulsify the balm, typically this means it’ll go milky. After that you can rinse. This does have a light fresh floral fragrance if you’re sensitive and concerned about such things. And it also contains mineral oil as one of the first ingredients.

I actually felt disappointed in the NYX formula. Cleansing balm shouldn’t be a lot of work. It tends to remove makeup quickly and effectively with no scrubbing evolved. NYX’s formula is quite thick and it doesn’t break down well during the initial application. During that first application cleansing balm tends break down with the heat from your skin and turns into more of an oil or the formula thins out. NYX’s formula took a little work to actually get to that point. I felt like I was literally applying vaseline to my face as I massaged it in. It just wasn’t breaking down at all. Not to mention rinsing it off was a little challenging as well. It didn’t quite emulsify as quickly as I would have liked. I hate to say it but on some levels it reminded me of Equate Wipe the Day Away Cleansing Balm which was a horror show. In the end, I started to use it more like the Pixi Nourishing Cleansing Balm I love so much. I’d apply and I’d remove it with a wet washcloth versus trying to rinse it off. It does a fairly good job removing makeup but it does struggle with waterproof mascara and eye makeup. It also leaves my eyes cloudy and a bit red after using it around this area. I will say that a little goes a long way. I typically apply cleansing balm generously. This isn’t a formula you want to be too generous with as it becomes more and more difficult to rinse off the more you apply.

I’m a little shocked because this is actually formulated in Korea. Korea is the mecca of good skincare! Hell, the cleansing balm trend started there. So, why the weird formula? Hmmm…!

Oh well!

Anyone try NYX Stripped Off Cleansing Balm?

Do share your thoughts!

NYX Stripped Off Cleansing Balm is available now at Ulta.com.