Last Updated on June 20, 2026 by omgbart
A quick update before we start: Dermalogica has discontinued the PreCleanse Balm. The good news is the original PreCleanse oil is still very much alive, and you can see the rest of the current lineup on Dermalogica’s cleanser page. What follows is what I made of the balm while it was here.
Long before double cleansing went mainstream, a bottle of Dermalogica PreCleanse was all I needed to melt off sunscreen, makeup, and city grime, which my NYC years produced in volume. The PreCleanse Balm takes that oil formula and gives it a lush texture in a travel-friendly tube. And can we talk about the double-sided silicone mitt in the box? Life changing.
In Addition To, Not Instead Of
If you cannot live without the original PreCleanse oil, do not panic, the balm is not replacing the cult classic. Think of the PreCleanse Balm as the pick for drier skin, or for anyone who has ever traveled with a pump bottle of anything. That last one tops my personal never-again list. The balm comes in an upright tube and stands out in a sea of cleansing balms that ship in jars. Major props, Dermalogica.
Just Like the Original, but Better (I Think)
It is built to start a double cleanse, applied to dry skin. The mitt adds gentle mechanical exfoliation and spreads the product evenly, which makes the whole thing work better. Formula, process, removal, it covers all three thirds of a proper cleanse. Safe around the eyes, it melts the most stubborn waterproof makeup without ever triggering sensitivity. A few drops of water and it takes off spackle-strength SPF and any trace of tinted moisturizer or bronzer in one step. Then I follow with an active second cleanser, usually the lactic acid resurfacing one.
Final Thoughts
In colder months I like it in the morning too, for the hydrating, cushioning feel. It is the move on mornings after a retinol night, when my skin wants gentleness. The signature scent, citrus and lavender, is all natural and very subtle. No frills, very direct, and it turns plain face cleansing into something closer to spa-level. One quirk of balm-to-oil textures: it can go creamy on hot days or need a firmer squeeze when it is cold.
$45 (3 oz.) available at dermalogica.com, ulta.com
*press sample
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