I grabbed this balm because every beauty editor on my feed swore it melted off 4 layers of festival makeup. I don’t trust Rihanna’s skincare—I trust her lip gloss.
So I tested it on my most stubborn mascara and a liquid lip that usually requires a sandblaster. One smear in, I realized this wasn’t just celebrity cash-grab territory.
It’s a balm-to-oil cleanser from Fenty Skin that costs $28 for 3.4 oz. The claim: it “melt away” makeup without stripping. I was skeptical until I saw the ingredient list wasn’t just perfume and dreams.
Texture Shift
Goes from solid balm to silky oil in under 5 seconds—no greasy residue.
Rinsing Game
Emulsifies with water like a dream. No second cleanse needed unless you’re caked in SPF.
Scent Level
Smells like a fancy spa, not a teenager’s fruity body spray. Subtle enough for sensitive noses.
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
The formula leans on soothing oils, not harsh surfactants. It’s actually gentle enough for my reactive skin—didn’t expect that from a celeb brand.
- Glycerin: Locks in moisture so you don’t feel tight after washing
- Kukui Nut Oil: Anti-inflammatory—calms redness from that retinol you overused
- PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate: The emulsifier that makes rinsing effortless
- Tocopherol: Vitamin E to protect barrier function
It scoops out like cold butter. Warm it between your palms, and it turns into this slippery, luxurious oil that doesn’t drip down your wrists—huge win.
Two weeks in, I noticed my pores looked smaller. Not dramatically, but enough that my boyfriend said “your face looks less angry.” The real surprise? No breakouts. That’s rare for a balm on my clog-prone chin.
Waterproof mascara? Gone in 30 seconds. That stubborn liquid lip? Dissolved without scrubbing. My moisture barrier stayed intact—no tightness, no redness.
It’s a solid first cleanse that actually earns the hype—no celebrity name needed. I’d buy it again even if Rihanna retired tomorrow.