Clinique Take The Day Off™ Cleansing Balm Review
BeautyBrief™
Brand
Clinique
Product
Take The Day Off™ Cleansing Balm
Claims check
If you want a fragrance-free balm for stubborn makeup, Clinique has removal testing, but that does not prove perfect removal of every waterproof formula.
Shopper fit
- Dry
- Normal
- Combination
- Oily
- Sensitive
Formula flags
- None identified
Shopper preferences
- Non-Comedogenic
- Dermatologist-Tested
- Ophthalmologist-Tested
Key ingredients
| Ethylhexyl Palmitate | Dissolves makeup, sunscreen, sebum, and other oil-soluble residue. |
|---|---|
| Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil | Adds slip and helps loosen stubborn makeup. |
| Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride | Improves spread and supports makeup removal. |
| Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate | Helps dissolved makeup and oils disperse with water during rinsing. |
| PEG-5 Glyceryl Triisostearate | Adds more rinse-off support so the balm washes away cleanly. |
Price tier
$$$ Premium
Value check
At the Premium tier, you pay for tested makeup removal and eye-area tolerance declarations, not skin treatment.
Where to buy
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Bottom line
If you frequently remove stubborn makeup, Clinique provides an emulsifying balm with finished-product testing. Its fragrance-free and eye-tested designations support shopper fit without guaranteeing tolerance. At the Premium tier, value depends on how often you need the first cleansing step.
If you regularly remove long-wear makeup, waterproof eye makeup, or sunscreen, Clinique Take The Day Off™ Cleansing Balm gives you a polished Premium first cleanse with a concise fragrance-free formula. The strongest case is convenience and tolerance: it melts into an oil, rinses cleanly, and is specifically tested for sensitive skin and eyes.
What it claims
Clinique says the balm dissolves long-wearing makeup, waterproof eye makeup, sunscreen, and pollutants while cleansing thoroughly without stripping your skin. The current U.S. page identifies it as suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin, and as fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, dermatologist-tested, ophthalmologist-tested, and allergy-tested.[1]
Clinique also reports more than 95% removal of face makeup, sunscreen, and pollutants in its current product testing.[1]
Claims vs. formula
Ethylhexyl palmitate gives you the main oil-soluble cleansing base. Safflower seed oil and caprylic/capric triglyceride add slip and help loosen foundation, sunscreen, sebum, and waterproof cosmetics.
Sorbeth-30 tetraoleate and PEG-5 glyceryl triisostearate help the oily phase and dissolved makeup disperse with water so the balm rinses away instead of leaving a straight oil film.
The formula does not need treatment actives to justify itself. Makeup and sunscreen removal are the job, and the balm is built around doing that well.
Ethylhexyl palmitate can raise clogging questions when judged by itself, but Clinique documents the finished balm as non-comedogenic and the product is rinsed away. That is why BB does not add a Comedogenic Concerns flag.
Ingredients that matter
Ethylhexyl palmitate, safflower seed oil and caprylic/capric triglyceride dissolve makeup and sunscreen, while sorbeth-30 tetraoleate and PEG-5 glyceryl triisostearate help the balm emulsify and rinse.
Clinique reports greater than 95% removal of tested makeup, sunscreen and pollutant residue. These finished-product results are useful, but do not establish that it removes every waterproof product or performs better than all lower-priced balms.
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Ethylhexyl Palmitate is a silky emollient. Concentrated testing on the backs of selected men showed comedogenic potential, but that does not establish that every finished product containing it will clog…
Read the IngredientBrief
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is a common emollient and occlusive that adds softness, slip, and moisture support to skincare formulas. Its value depends on the complete product, not the ingredient name alone.
Read the IngredientBriefSafety and regulatory context
Clinique explicitly describes the finished product as dermatologist-tested, ophthalmologist-tested, allergy-tested and fragrance-free.[1] These designations support sensitive-eye shopper fit but cannot guarantee universal tolerance.
Use on dry skin, rinse and optionally follow with a second cleanser as directed. The product is a makeup remover rather than a leave-on barrier treatment.
What to expect in the short term
The solid balm melts into a silky oil on dry skin and gives you enough slip to break down long-wear foundation, sunscreen, facial oil, and waterproof eye makeup without repeated wiping.
If your eye area is sensitive and you regularly remove stubborn eye makeup, the ophthalmologist-tested positioning is especially useful.
What to expect over time
The repeat-use value is practical first cleansing rather than treatment. You are paying to make difficult makeup and sunscreen easier to remove consistently and comfortably.
At the Premium tier, the current sizes are the retailer-listed amount for 1 oz, the retailer-listed amount for 3.8 oz, and the retailer-listed amount for 6.7 oz. The value is strongest if you use a dedicated first cleanse often.
Who it fits
This makes the most sense if your skin is dry, normal, combination, oily, or sensitive and you want a fragrance-free first cleanse for long-wear makeup or sunscreen.
If you only need first cleansing occasionally, a less expensive balm or oil may do the core job for less.
Compare before you buy
Choose Clinique when sensitive-eye testing, fragrance-free removal, and a polished solid-to-oil texture matter to you.
Choose a lighter cleansing oil when you prefer a more fluid format or want to spend less.
Final Assessment
If you often wear long-wear makeup, Clinique Take The Day Off provides a fragrance-free, emulsifying balm with product-level removal testing. Its eye-area testing is a useful distinction without guaranteeing complete removal for every waterproof mascara. At the Premium tier, its value depends on how frequently you use a dedicated first cleanse.
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Last reviewed: October 2026
Sources
Official product information. Manufacturer’s exact-product page, consulted October 14, 2026.
