The 7 Best Face Balms Of 2025: Why Experts Are Ditching Cream For 'Slugging'

As of December 2025, the secret weapon for repairing a compromised skin barrier and achieving that coveted dewy glow is no longer a traditional face cream—it’s the face balm. This powerful, anhydrous (waterless) skincare staple has become the favorite of dermatologists and beauty enthusiasts alike, thanks to the viral "slugging" technique and the growing focus on barrier health. The best face balms of the year are rich, concentrated formulas designed not just to hydrate, but to create a protective, occlusive seal that locks in moisture and active ingredients like nothing else.

Face balms are essential for anyone battling chronic dryness, winter chafing, or irritation from active ingredients like retinoids. Unlike standard moisturizers, a true face balm is a concentrated blend of oils and waxes that delivers a potent dose of skin-loving lipids, making it the ultimate remedy for soothing, healing, and protecting your complexion. We’ve researched the freshest releases and perennial favorites to bring you the definitive list of the top balms available today.

The Essential Difference: Face Balm vs. Moisturizer vs. Cream

Understanding the fundamental difference between a balm, a cream, and a moisturizer is key to maximizing your skincare routine and achieving optimal topical authority. Many people use the terms interchangeably, but their base composition dictates their function and when they should be applied. This is the core of modern skin barrier science.

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The Composition Breakdown: Anhydrous vs. Water-Based

• Moisturizers & Creams: These are typically emulsions—mixtures of oil and water. They contain humectants (like Hyaluronic Acid or Glycerin) that attract water to the skin, and emollients (like ceramides or fatty acids) that soften the skin. They are designed to *add* hydration.
• Face Balms: Balms are anhydrous (water-free) formulas, consisting primarily of oils, butters (like Shea Butter), and waxes (like Beeswax or Petroleum Jelly). They are inherently occlusive, meaning they form a thick, protective layer on the skin's surface. A balm’s main role is not to add water, but to prevent the existing water in your skin from evaporating—a process known as Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL). This occlusive effect is what makes them superior for intensive repair and protection.

Because balms are occlusive, they should always be the final step in your nighttime routine, applied over water-based serums and moisturizers to seal everything in. This layering technique is the foundation of the popular "slugging" method.

The 7 Best Face Balms of 2025 for Every Skin Need

The latest and greatest face balms fall into distinct categories, each formulated with specific key ingredients to address different concerns, from intensive barrier repair to gentle makeup removal.

1. Best for Intensive Barrier Repair & Slugging

These balms are the heavy-hitters, formulated with high concentrations of occlusives and reparative ingredients to soothe severe dryness, irritation, and redness. They are the top choice for the "slugging" technique.

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• La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ (The Cult Classic): This multi-purpose balm is a global favorite for its soothing power. Key ingredients include 5% Panthenol (Vitamin B5) to soothe, Madecassoside for repair, and the proprietary prebiotic complex Tribioma™ to support the skin's microbiome. It’s thick, non-greasy (for a balm), and perfect for post-procedure or irritated skin.
• CeraVe Healing Ointment (The Budget Slugging Hero): While technically an ointment, its high concentration of Petrolatum and Ceramides makes it an excellent, budget-friendly occlusive for slugging. It’s widely recommended by dermatologists for its non-irritating, protective formula that seals in moisture.
• Versed Sweet Relief Night Mask + Face Balm (The Clean Beauty Option): A vegan, fragrance-free formula that multitasks as a night mask and slugging balm. It’s formulated to provide intense relief and hydration for dry, sensitive skin without relying on petrolatum.

2. Best Multi-Purpose & Treatment Balms

These balms go beyond simple moisturization, doubling as cleansers, masks, or spot treatments, often featuring potent botanical oils and extracts for added therapeutic benefits.

• Neal's Yard Remedies Wild Rose Beauty Balm (The Iconic Multi-Tasker): This luxurious, 99% organic balm is famous for its versatility. It can be used as a rich moisturizer, a deeply nourishing mask, or a gentle exfoliating cleanser when paired with a muslin cloth. Its key ingredients include Organic Rosehip Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, and Shea Butter, providing essential fatty acids and a beautiful, soothing rose scent.
• Danucera Cerabalm (The Celebrity Favorite): A high-performance, multi-purpose balm that functions as a cleansing balm, a masque, a makeup remover, and a hydrator. Its formula is powered by Hibiscus Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Meadowfoam Oil, and Sea Buckthorn Oil, known for replenishing essential lipids and comforting the skin barrier.
• Tallow-Based Balms (The Minimalist Trend): Gaining popularity in 2025 for their simple, ancestral approach to skincare, these balms are made from rendered animal fat (tallow) mixed with botanical oils. They are highly bioavailable, rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K, and are favored by those seeking a minimalist, whole-ingredient routine.

3. Best Cleansing Balms (First Step in Double Cleansing)

Cleansing balms are specifically formulated to melt away makeup, sunscreen, and impurities without stripping the skin’s natural oils. They are the essential first step in a double-cleansing routine, especially beneficial for dry or mature skin.

• Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm (The Fan-Favorite): Consistently rated as a top cleansing balm for 2025, this lightweight, solid-to-oil formula effortlessly dissolves stubborn makeup and sunscreen, leaving no oily residue.
• The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm (The Best Budget Cleanser): An affordable yet effective option, this balm uses Oat Kernel Oil and Colloidal Oatmeal to soothe and cleanse, making it ideal for sensitive skin types looking for a gentle, non-stripping first cleanse.
• Sisley Paris Triple-Oil Balm Make-Up Remover and Cleanser (The Luxury Splurge): Housed in a luxe jar, this emollient balm is designed to nourish stressed, dry skin while effectively removing all traces of makeup, providing a spa-like cleansing experience.

Expert Guide: How to Use a Face Balm Correctly

Using a face balm correctly is critical to reaping its full benefits. Because of its occlusive nature, a balm must be used at the right point in your routine to seal in, not block out, other ingredients.

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The "Slugging" Technique for Maximum Hydration

The "slugging" trend involves applying a thin layer of an occlusive balm—like CeraVe Healing Ointment or La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5—as the absolute final step in your evening skincare routine.

1. Cleanse: Start with a gentle cleanser.
2. Hydrate: Apply water-based products like a hydrating toner, essence, or a Hyaluronic Acid serum. The balm will lock in this hydration.
3. Treat (Optional): Apply your treatment serum (e.g., Niacinamide or a mild Retinol). Wait 10-15 minutes for the treatment to absorb.
4. Moisturize (Optional but Recommended): Apply your regular moisturizer or a lightweight cream.
5. Slugging (The Final Step): Take a pea-sized amount of your chosen face balm. Warm it between your fingers and gently press a thin, even layer over your entire face. The goal is a protective seal, not a thick, suffocating layer.

This technique is best for individuals with extremely dry, dehydrated, or compromised skin barriers, and is typically recommended for use only at night. Avoid slugging when using harsh exfoliating acids (AHAs/BHAs) or strong retinoids, as the occlusive layer can intensify their penetration and increase irritation.

Key Ingredients and Benefits of Modern Face Balms

The best balms on the market today are packed with potent ingredients that do more than just moisturize. They are designed to actively heal and protect the skin.

Essential Face Balm Entities (Ingredients):

• Occlusives (The Sealants): Petrolatum, Beeswax, Lanolin, and Shea Butter. These create the physical barrier against moisture loss.
• Repairing Agents: Panthenol (Vitamin B5) and Madecassoside (from Centella Asiatica). These are vital for calming inflammation and accelerating skin recovery.
• Nourishing Oils: Rosehip Seed Oil (rich in Vitamin A and essential fatty acids), Jojoba Oil (mimics human sebum), Meadowfoam Oil, and Sea Buckthorn Oil (anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich).
• Prebiotics: Ingredients like Tribioma™ help to restore the balance of the skin's natural moisture barrier, a growing trend in 2025 skincare.

By incorporating one of these top-rated face balms into your routine, you are not just moisturizing; you are investing in the long-term health and resilience of your skin barrier, ensuring a calm, supple, and radiant complexion through any season.