e.l.f. Skin Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm for sensitive skin

Sodium Hyaluronate
Ceramides
Peptides
Glycerin
Sunflower Seed Oil
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for sensitive skin; a few pre-cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Highly suitable for your normal skin, this cleansing balm effectively removes makeup with Cetyl Ethylhexanoate and Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, while ceramides and hyaluronic acid support your skin barrier and hydration needs to address redness and irritation.
- The formulation also includes peptides that can help with skin regeneration, further complementing its benefits for your skin concerns.
- The product is safe for your sensitive skin, containing no harsh or prohibited ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine. Start 3x/week before building up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser and toner. Follow with your usual moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated.
- Gently press a small amount of the makeup remover onto your face using a soft cotton pad. Avoid any harsh rubbing to protect your sensitive skin.
- Apply the makeup remover on dry skin to ensure better tolerance for sensitive areas. This helps reduce any potential irritation or redness.
- Do a patch test before your first use and avoid the direct eye area to ensure safe application.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 13.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users overwhelmingly find this cleansing balm highly effective at melting away even waterproof makeup, leaving skin feeling hydrated and soft. It is frequently noted as being gentle and suitable for sensitive skin, offering excellent value. A moderate number of users report temporary blurry vision if the product gets into the eyes, while a smaller number experience an oily residue or occasional breakouts.
Highlights
Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
- “melts makeup like butter”
- “removes lash glue with ease”
- “takes off waterproof mascara”
- “dissolves everything instantly”
Great value Often Mentioned
- “budget friendly”
- “fraction of the price”
- “better than high end”
- “unbeatable price point”
Hydrating and non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “skin feels soft and hydrated”
- “no tightness at all”
- “leaves skin silky smooth”
- “moisturizing after rinse”
Gentle on sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “didn't break me out”
- “no strong fragrance”
- “extremely gentle”
- “safe for sensitive eyes”
Temporary blurry vision Sometimes Noted
- “cloudy eyes”
- “blurry vision for minutes”
- “film on eyes”
- “fogs up my sight”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “worst breakout”
- “gave me cystic acne”
- “clogged my pores”
- “caused whiteheads”
Oily residue Rarely Noted
- “leaves a film”
- “waxy feel”
- “greasy residue”
- “hard to rinse off completely”
Small quantity Rarely Noted
- “runs out fast”
- “wish it was bigger”
- “small amount for the jar”
- “finished in two weeks”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, target.com, walmart.com, influenster.com, well.ca, and more
Questions and answers
What makes e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Cleansing Balm a great fit for sensitive skin?
This cleansing balm is a great fit because it gently removes makeup while ceramides and sodium hyaluronate support your skin barrier and hydration to help calm redness and irritation. It also contains sunflower seed oil and peptides that preserve skin integrity and aid regeneration without harsh ingredients that could trigger flare-ups.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for sensitive skin?
This cleansing balm is a great fit for sensitive skin because it contains ceramides and sodium hyaluronate to support your skin barrier and hydration while addressing redness and irritation, along with sunflower seed oil to help preserve skin integrity. It also includes peptides for skin regeneration and has a safe profile with no harsh ingredients.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for sensitive skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps calm and hydrate sensitive skin while supporting the skin barrier to keep it soft and comfortable. Clinical studies show it improves surface moisture and reduces dryness, roughness, and redness without irritation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018
What do Ceramides do for sensitive skin?
Ceramides help calm and strengthen sensitive skin by improving moisture barriers and reducing discomfort. Topical use is well tolerated and may significantly increase skin hydration while easing stinging or sensitive sensations.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2018Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2026
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, or as a weekly step before cleansing. It is a great fit for sensitive skin because it gently removes makeup while supporting your skin barrier and hydration needs with ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
This cleansing balm is a great fit for your sensitive skin and can be used in the evening before your cleanser to gently take off makeup. Following it with a gentle cleanser helps prep your skin so you can safely apply your retinol treatment afterward without extra irritation.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening as the first step of your nighttime routine to gently take off makeup. It is safe for sensitive skin and unlikely to cause irritation because it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This cleansing balm is unlikely to cause breakouts for sensitive skin, as it has a low complaint rate for clogged pores and contains no harsh ingredients. It removes makeup effectively while keeping your skin calm and hydrated.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (geraniol, linalool, and parfum).
What the research says
Topical application of an emollient emulsion containing 15.0% caprylic/capric triglyceride doubled the amount of urocanic acid isomers and increased skin hydration with reduced transepidermal water loss in healthy subjects, though it did not prevent ultraviolet-induced urocanic acid isomerization.
Life, 2023Marine collagen peptides from the skin of Nile tilapia enhanced wound healing in an in vitro scratch assay and in a rabbit deep partial-thickness scald wound model.
Marine Drugs, 2017Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001
Ingredients
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Polyethylene, Peg-10 Isostearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Ceramide Np, Ceramide 6 Ii, Ceramide 1, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytosphingosine, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Water, Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Geraniol, Linalool, Parfum
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-

Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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