Comparison

Foaming Facial Cleanser vs Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm

Name: Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
Brand: Clinique
Price: 36 USD

CeraVe vs Clinique — side by side, no bias.

CeraVe

Foaming Facial Cleanser

8.8/10cleanser

Clinique

Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm

8.7/10cleanser

Our pick

Foaming Facial Cleanser

8.8/10 · CeraVe

	Foaming Facial Cleanser	Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
Brand	CeraVe	Clinique
Category	cleanser	cleanser
Editor Rating	8.8/10 ★	8.7/10
Category	cleanser	cleanser
Texture	Lightweight gel-to-foam	Solid balm-to-oil
Finish	Squeaky-clean, not stripped	Soft, fully unmade-up
Skin Types	Oily Combination	Dry Combination Sensitive
Targets	Oiliness Pores	Dryness
Pros	+foaming cleanser that doesn't strip — rare combination +ceramides + niacinamide stack at drugstore pricing +fragrance-free, dermatologist-favourite +ideal AM cleanser for oily/combination skin	+removes the most stubborn waterproof makeup with less effort than any K-balm +fragrance-free and ophthalmologist-tested — eye-area safe +no essential oils, no sting, no residue +sized generously — lasts months
Cons	−may still feel too foaming for very dry skin (use the Hydrating version) −contains sodium lauroyl sarcosinate — not a true sulfate but mildly stripping for ultra-sensitive skin −boring packaging — the brand's signature style −doesn't remove sunscreen well — pair with a balm or oil first	−mineral-oil-heavy formula will not appeal to clean-beauty-leaning users −does not emulsify well — needs follow-up cleanser −tub format is unhygienic if you dip with wet fingers −expensive next to drugstore balms
Verdict	The CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser's oily-skin sister. Same three-ceramide barrier philosophy, gel-to-foam texture, and an added kick of niacinamide. Removes excess oil without the squeak-and-tightness of harsh sulfate cleansers. The reason it works for oily skin where most foaming cleansers don't: the ceramide/cholesterol/fatty acid stack rebuilds the lipid barrier as the surfactants strip the surface oil, so you finish washed but not stripped. Pair with the Hydrating Cleanser as PM-AM if you have combination skin — this is why the CeraVe duo is the most-recommended cleanser pairing in dermatology.	The cleansing balm that taught the West how to oil-cleanse before K-beauty arrived. Take The Day Off has been Clinique's quiet hero since the 2000s — a fragrance-free, mineral-oil-rich balm that melts the most stubborn waterproof mascara, SPF, and tinted skincare without leaving anything behind. The texture is firm-balm-to-clear-oil, not the silky melt of Banila Co or Beauty of Joseon, but it removes more makeup, faster. For sensitive eyes (it's ophthalmologist-tested) this is genuinely the best in class. Boring packaging, perfect product.

Ingredient Breakdown

Only in Foaming Facial Cleanser

Ceramides Niacinamide Hyaluronic Acid

Only in Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm

Jojoba Oil Shea Butter

View Foaming Facial Cleanser View Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm Compare other products →

Foaming Facial Cleanser

Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm

Brand

CeraVe

Clinique

Category

cleanser

Texture

Lightweight gel-to-foam

Solid balm-to-oil

Finish

Squeaky-clean, not stripped

Soft, fully unmade-up

Skin Types

Oily Combination

Dry Combination Sensitive

Targets

Oiliness Pores

Dryness

Pros

+foaming cleanser that doesn't strip — rare combination
+ceramides + niacinamide stack at drugstore pricing
+fragrance-free, dermatologist-favourite
+ideal AM cleanser for oily/combination skin

+removes the most stubborn waterproof makeup with less effort than any K-balm
+fragrance-free and ophthalmologist-tested — eye-area safe
+no essential oils, no sting, no residue
+sized generously — lasts months

Cons

−may still feel too foaming for very dry skin (use the Hydrating version)
−contains sodium lauroyl sarcosinate — not a true sulfate but mildly stripping for ultra-sensitive skin
−boring packaging — the brand's signature style
−doesn't remove sunscreen well — pair with a balm or oil first

−mineral-oil-heavy formula will not appeal to clean-beauty-leaning users
−does not emulsify well — needs follow-up cleanser
−tub format is unhygienic if you dip with wet fingers
−expensive next to drugstore balms

Verdict

The CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser's oily-skin sister. Same three-ceramide barrier philosophy, gel-to-foam texture, and an added kick of niacinamide. Removes excess oil without the squeak-and-tightness of harsh sulfate cleansers. The reason it works for oily skin where most foaming cleansers don't: the ceramide/cholesterol/fatty acid stack rebuilds the lipid barrier as the surfactants strip the surface oil, so you finish washed but not stripped. Pair with the Hydrating Cleanser as PM-AM if you have combination skin — this is why the CeraVe duo is the most-recommended cleanser pairing in dermatology.

The cleansing balm that taught the West how to oil-cleanse before K-beauty arrived. Take The Day Off has been Clinique's quiet hero since the 2000s — a fragrance-free, mineral-oil-rich balm that melts the most stubborn waterproof mascara, SPF, and tinted skincare without leaving anything behind. The texture is firm-balm-to-clear-oil, not the silky melt of Banila Co or Beauty of Joseon, but it removes more makeup, faster. For sensitive eyes (it's ophthalmologist-tested) this is genuinely the best in class. Boring packaging, perfect product.