e.l.f. Skin Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm for combination skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ceramides
Peptides
Glycerin
Sunflower Seed Oil
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for combination skin; a few pre-cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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
- Offers excellent makeup removal for your combination skin, as cleansing oils like Cetyl Ethylhexanoate and Caprylic Capric Triglyceride effectively dissolve impurities without causing irritation.
- While it provides general hydration and cleansing benefits, the formula lacks specialized ingredients to specifically target and manage your oily shine concerns.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, containing no harsh or prohibited ingredients that would pose an irritation risk.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine to clear away excess oil.
- Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser to effectively break down heavy makeup and dirt.
- Gently wipe the makeup remover across your face using a soft cotton pad, avoiding harsh rubbing.
- Use the makeup remover on completely dry skin to help dissolve surface oils and impurities best.
- Avoid direct contact with the eyes while using this makeup remover.
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! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm a great fit for combination skin?
This cleansing balm is a great fit for your combination skin because ingredients like Cetyl Ethylhexanoate and Caprylic Capric Triglyceride effectively dissolve makeup and impurities without causing irritation. It has a safe formula with no harsh ingredients, though it provides general hydration rather than targeting oily shine specifically.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate and Caprylic Capric Triglyceride make this cleanser a great fit for your combination skin because they dissolve impurities without causing irritation. Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, and ceramides also help keep your skin soft and smooth while you cleanse.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for combination skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for combination skin because it quenches dry areas with a boost of hydration while keeping oily zones balanced. Regular use helps smooth out fine lines and makes your skin feel soft and plump without causing irritation.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
What do Ceramides do for combination skin?
Ceramides help balance combination skin by supporting the skin barrier to keep dry areas hydrated without feeling heavy on oily zones. This type of skin needs lightweight hydrators and barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides and cholesterol to maintain a smooth and calm feel across both dry and oily areas.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2003Scientific Reports, 2022
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, or as part of a weekly evening routine for your combination skin. It is safe to use and helps melt away makeup without causing irritation.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine before your cleanser and retinol treatment. It is unlikely to cause irritation on your skin and helps support your skin barrier while you use retinoids.
How often should I use this cleanser?
Use this makeup remover in your evening routine when taking off your makeup. It gently dissolves impurities without causing irritation, making it safe for regular use on your skin.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your combination skin, as it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients that pose an irritation risk. However, it may occasionally leave an oily residue that some reviewers report.
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 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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