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

Sodium Hyaluronate
Ceramides
Peptides
Glycerin
Sunflower Seed Oil
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for mature skin; a few pre-cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with mature skin: fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. 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
- This cleansing balm is highly suitable for your normal skin, effectively removing makeup with cleansing oils like Cetyl Ethylhexanoate and Caprylic Capric Triglyceride while also addressing wrinkles and fine lines through Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, which support collagen production.
- The inclusion of ceramides and hyaluronic acid further enhances barrier repair and hydration, complementing the anti-aging benefits for your skin.
- The formulation is safe for your normal skin, containing soothing ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid with no risk of irritation.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover as part of your PM routine every evening. Start 3x/week and move to daily use as your skin feels comfortable.
- Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser and toner. It acts as the very first step to melt away makeup.
- Gently massage a small amount of the makeup remover over dry skin to dissolve makeup, then rinse with warm water. Avoid any harsh rubbing around your eyes.
- Apply this makeup remover directly onto dry skin to effectively break down stubborn makeup and impurities. There is no need to dampen your face beforehand.
- Do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well. Avoid direct contact with your eyes while cleansing.
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 mature skin?
This cleansing balm is a great fit for mature skin because it melts away makeup with oils while using peptides to support collagen and smooth out fine lines. It also includes ceramides and hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture and help repair your skin barrier, leaving your face feeling soft and smooth.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2015
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for mature skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for mature skin because it contains Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, which help support collagen production to address fine lines and wrinkles. It also includes ceramides and sodium hyaluronate to boost hydration and repair the skin barrier.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2015
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for mature skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps mature skin by deeply boosting moisture, improving elasticity, and smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Regular use keeps the skin looking plump and soft while supporting overall firmness and hydration.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Skin Research and Technology, 2024
What do Ceramides do for mature skin?
Ceramides help keep mature skin hydrated and smooth by repairing the outer moisture barrier and supporting water retention. This type of ingredient helps improve skin texture and elasticity while reducing dryness, which makes it particularly useful for aging skin that tends to lose moisture easily.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2019International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology, 2008
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for mature skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine, as the first step before your cleanser, and also in your weekly routine. It gently melts away makeup while helping smooth wrinkles and keep skin hydrated.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2015
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleansing balm in your evening routine before applying your retinol treatment. Using a gentle, nourishing cleanser helps protect your skin barrier and makes it easier for your skin to adjust to retinol.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine as the first step before cleansing. It is well-suited for your mature skin, helping to melt away makeup while peptides and hyaluronic acid support firmness and hydration.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2015
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?
This cleansing balm is unlikely to cause breakouts for mature skin, as it features a gentle formula that cleanses away makeup while keeping the skin soft and hydrated. Reviewers rarely report breakouts from using this product.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (geraniol, linalool, and parfum).
What the research says
Chronomodulated daytime application of baicalin and nighttime application of palmitoyl tripeptide-1 synergistically improved skin luminance by 16.29%, nasolabial fold depth by -36.35%, and firmness by 24.35% in 30 female participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026A multi-modal methodology combining MALDI-MSI, in vivo RCM, echography, and histology revealed age-related decreases in extracellular matrix and epidermal-dermal junction proteins and undulation depth, while a blend of palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 improved subepidermal low-echogenic band thickness, density, and extracellular matrix structure compared to placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2015Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, acetyl hexapeptide-8, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-10 significantly increased type III collagen levels in human dermal fibroblasts following UV exposure, with their combination demonstrating a greater effect in vitro and enhancing type I, III, and IV collagen levels in ex vivo skin tissues compared to individual components.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Topical 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
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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