My Honest Thoughts on the New Clinique Charcoal Cleansing Balm

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard people raving about a cleansing balm once or twice before.

Whilst the hype of cleansing balms is definitely there, there are many left wondering what a cleansing balm actually does and whether or not it should have a place in their skincare routine.

Unlike traditional water-based gel and foaming cleansers, cleansing balms will usually utilise oils and/or emollients to gently but swiftly break down makeup, dirt, SPF, sweat, excess oils and other pollutants that may be on your skin.

Cleansing balms generally have a solid or buttery texture which then emulsify into a creamy liquid once buffed into the skin.

Now if you’re familiar with cleansing balms, there is a 99% chance you’ve heard of (or maybe even tried) the original, best-selling Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm from the one and only Clinique.

I, like so many others had heard of the OG Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm but had never gotten a chance to try it, so when I found out that Clinique were releasing a new and charcoal version, I had to take them both for a road-test and give you my honest review!

What Is the Clinique Take the Day Off Charcoal Cleansing Balm?

Similarly to the original Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm formula, this new Take The Day Off™ Charcoal Cleansing Balm addition promises to dissolve long-wearing makeup as well as offer over 95% removal of face makeup, SPF & pollutants.

Here are some other features of the Clinique Charcoal Cleansing Balm:

• It’s suitable for all skin types and works to thoroughly cleanse without leaving an oily or greasy residue.

• Its star ingredient is Japanese charcoal (deeply cleanses, unclogs pores and detoxifies).

• Japanese charcoal is known for its ability to absorb excess impurities and oil from the skin.

• The main difference between the original cult Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm formula and this new release is the addition of Japanese charcoal and safflower seed oil.

• Whilst the Japanese charcoal is working to absorb and detoxify, safflower seed oil helps dissolve makeup and leaves the skin feeling silky smooth. AKA, a power combo!

• Quickly dissolves SPF and even the most stubborn eye and face makeup.

• The non-acnegenic and fragrance-free formula rinses off thoroughly without leaving the skin feeling oily or greasy.

• The Clinique take the day off cleansing balm texture starts off as a thick balm and then emulsifies into a creamy liquid once buffed into the skin.

How to Use the Clinique Charcoal Cleansing Balm.

Always use the Clinique Charcoal Cleansing Balm as the first step in your routine.

Take about a walnut-sized amount of product and buff it into DRY skin with DRY hands.

Once the balm is applied to your face, the warmth of your skin will emulsify the cleanser into a milky liquid.

If you want to loosen the product up a tiny bit, feel free to add a few drops of water to your fingers and continue cleansing.

Once you’ve massaged your skin generously with the milky liquid, rinse well with warm water and pat dry.

Now that your skin has been properly cleansed and your makeup, SPF and impurities has been removed, you have the option of following up with a targeted cleanser that aims to treat your individual skin concerns.

If that’s not your vibe, you can leave the cleansing here and continue on with the rest of your skincare routine.

My Clinique Charcoal Cleansing Balm Review.

Ok let's talk details!

The Clinique Take the Day Off Charcoal cleansing balm is fragrance-free but if anything it has a very faint, waxy scent.

The texture before it’s applied feels thick and silky but once it has been emulsified, it becomes a lightweight, milky consistency.

The packaging is quite sturdy and easy to use. The circular tub makes it easy to scoop out product and there would be minimal product waste.

Great to store in the shower and would be even better to chuck in a suitcase when travelling!

This Clinique charcoal cleanser balm feels quite hydrating and nourishing on the skin too.

But how did it do at removing my makeup?

It did a great job at removing all foundation and face makeup!

My eyes needed a bit more work as I was wearing waterproof mascara but with some gentle massaging and dedication, we got there.

It felt so much nicer than a regular gel cleanser or micellar water on the eyes.

I cleansed for a full 60 seconds and I found that was enough time to remove my makeup. I personally like to always use a follow up cleanser though.

My skin felt soft and supple after washing off the balm.

Some cleansers can leave the skin feeling tight or sore but the Clinique charcoal balm cleanser leaves the skin with a nourishing softness.

Clinique Charcoal Cleansing Balm vs Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm.

Having tried both formulas for the first time, I can say that they are both excellent balm cleansers when it comes to removing stubborn makeup and serve as an amazing first cleanse.

The only main difference that I picked up was the addition of the black charcoal.

Having not used a black cleanser before, it took a minute to get used to seeing any sort of cleanser residue on my skin if I hadn’t properly washed the cleanser off my face.

I can honestly say that I would use these interchangeably and love both formulas!

Packaging is pretty much the exact same for both versions of the cleanser and they both achieve very similar results when it comes to effectively removing makeup, SPF and impurities from the skin.

They are both fragrance free and are very similar when it comes to consistency and texture.

Final Verdict...

The charcoal cleansing balm will leave some residue on your skin if you haven’t washed it off fully, so beware if you are using a white or light coloured towel to pat your face dry.

With saying this, if you’re left with cleanser residue on your towel, it’s a great warning sign that you should probably spend a few more seconds washing your face before going in to dry it off.

Someone who wears lots of layers of makeup and SPF or has oily skin would benefit most from this new charcoal Clinique cleansing balm.

I would recommend the charcoal cleansing balm to anyone that is looking for a cleanser that can remove makeup WITH the added benefit of skincare ingredients like Japanese charcoal working to detoxify and deeply cleanse the skin.

Someone with an oily skin type that is looking for a balm cleanser may also want to try the charcoal cleansing balm as the Japanese charcoal works to absorb excess impurities and oil from the skin.

If you’re someone that always follows up with a second cleanse and has normal to dry skin, you would probably be happier with the original Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm formula as it would remove your makeup fantastically and you would be using a second cleanser to really target your individual skin concerns.

I personally always follow up a balm cleanser with a targeted second cleaner so I’d probably tip towards the original Take The Day Off formula, but all in all, they are both 10/10 cleansing balms that I would recommend in a heartbeat.

Want to read some more of our recent skincare-focussed Beauty IQ stories? Check out these articles below:

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