Slaai Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser
Makeup Meltdown Expert
Verified reviewer
Pros & cons.
- +Ten different plant oils provide unmatched fatty acid diversity in a cleansing balm
- +Borage oil delivers 24-25% GLA for active barrier support during cleansing
- +Dissolves heavy and waterproof makeup effortlessly without tugging
- +Fragrance-free with no essential oils — gentle around the sensitive eye area
- +Magnetic spatula and jar design maintain product hygiene
- +Included Bamboo Booster adds optional gentle physical exfoliation
- −Doesn't emulsify as cleanly as competing balms — requires a second cleanse
- −Ethylhexyl palmitate base has comedogenic potential for acne-prone skin
- −At $39 plus the cost of a second cleanser, total cleansing cost adds up
- −Jar format with screw lid is inconvenient with wet or oily hands
- −Can cause temporary blurry vision during eye-area makeup removal
- −Some users report breakouts from the rich oil blend
The full review.
Texture
The solid butter melts on warm skin like most good cleansing balms. It changes from a firm, scoopable texture to a silky oil that glides across the face.
Scent
Slaai smells like nothing but faint, buttery plant oils. This is how a face cleanser should smell.
Packaging
The lid has a magnetic spatula. This keeps your fingers out of the jar and prevents product contamination.
Best for
Slaai is a cleansing balm for people who care about oil performance, not just dissolving makeup.
Not ideal for
If you need a neutral canvas after your first cleanse, use a second cleanser to finish.
Common Praise
The botanical diversity is real, the borage oil inclusion is smart, and the African oil complex provides fatty acid profiles found nowhere else.
Common Complaints
Incomplete emulsification means some comedogenic emollient may stay on the skin.
Pairs Well With
Drunk Elephant designed Slaai to work as a system with Beste No. 9.
How to Use
Massage for about sixty seconds until a full face of makeup dissolves into a pigment and oil slurry, then add water. The oil turns milky. Rinse.
Ingredient analysis.
Full INCI list
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Lauryl Laurate, Polyglyceryl-3 Laurate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Fruit Extract, Fragaria Ananassa (Strawberry) Seed Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-2 Caprate, Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Schinziophyton Rautanenii Kernel Oil, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Ximenia Americana Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Glycerin
Skin match.
The science.
The Science
Slaai's formulation centers on the principle of lipophilic dissolution — 'like dissolves like' — where oil-based ingredients dissolve sebum, makeup pigments, and sunscreen filters that water-based cleansers cannot effectively remove.
The standout ingredient from an evidence perspective is borage seed oil (Borago officinalis). Borage oil contains approximately 24-25% gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), making it one of the richest plant sources of this omega-6 fatty acid. A study by Brosche and Platt in Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics (2000) found that GLA supplementation from borage oil significantly decreased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) by 11% in elderly subjects, indicating improved barrier function. Separate research by Kanehara et al. in the Journal of Dermatological Science (2002) demonstrated that GLA reversed epidermal hyperproliferation and increased ceramide accumulation in skin — suggesting that GLA doesn't just supplement barrier lipids but actively stimulates their production.
Marula oil (Sclerocarya birrea seed oil) has been clinically evaluated for skincare applications. Komane et al. (Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2015) confirmed its non-irritant profile and documented moisturizing, hydrating, and occlusive properties in a clinical trial on 20 volunteers. The oil's approximately 69% oleic acid content closely resembles the fatty acid profile of human sebum, facilitating both effective makeup dissolution and post-rinse skin conditioning.
Caprylic/capric triglyceride, the secondary base ingredient, has been studied for emollient effects. Monteiro et al. (Life, 2023) found that a 15% caprylic/capric triglyceride emulsion improved skin hydration and reduced TEWL, validating its role as both a solvent and a skin-conditioning agent in rinse-off products.
The polyglyceryl emulsifiers (polyglyceryl-3 laurate, polyglyceryl-10 laurate, polyglyceryl-2 caprate) enable the balm-to-milk emulsification. These PEG-free emulsifiers are considered gentler alternatives to traditional ethoxylated surfactants, though the emulsification efficiency varies — which explains user reports of residual oiliness after rinsing.
References
- Safety and efficacy of Sclerocarya birrea (A.Rich.) Hochst (Marula) oil: A clinical perspective — Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2015)
- Effect of borage oil consumption on fatty acid metabolism, transepidermal water loss and skin parameters in elderly people — Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics (2000)
Dermatologist Perspective
Dermatologists widely endorse double cleansing as an effective method for thorough makeup and sunscreen removal, with an oil-based first cleanser followed by a water-based second cleanser. Board-certified dermatologists note that Slaai's plant oil base provides a gentler alternative to mineral oil-based balms for patients who prefer botanical formulations. The borage oil inclusion is notable from a clinical perspective — GLA-rich oils have demonstrated barrier-supportive properties in published research. However, dermatologists caution acne-prone patients about the ethylhexyl palmitate base and recommend thorough second cleansing to minimize comedogenic risk. The fragrance-free, essential oil-free formula makes it suitable for patients with contact dermatitis or fragrance sensitivity.
Where it fits in your routine.
Use the magnetic spatula to scoop a generous amount onto dry hands. Massage onto a dry face in circular motions for 60 seconds to dissolve makeup, sunscreen, and daily grime. Add a small amount of lukewarm water and massage; the oil turns into a milky emulsion. Rinse thoroughly. Use a water-based second cleanser next. To use the Bamboo Booster, mix a small amount of the powder into the Slaai balm in your palm before applying. Limit use to 1-2 times per week.
At $39 for 3.88 oz, Slaai sits at the premium end of the cleansing balm market. Using it only in the evening lasts 2-3 months, costing roughly $3-5 per week for the first cleanse step. Adding a second cleanser ($18-36 for Beste No. 9) raises the total cleansing routine cost. The botanical oil quality is premium; borage, marula, baobab, mongongo, and ximenia oils cost more than the mineral oil base most competing balms use. Dry and normal skin types get conditioning benefits that justify the value. For users who only need efficient makeup removal, competing balms that emulsify more completely offer better practical value.
This product works for dry, normal, or combination skin types that wear daily makeup or heavy sunscreen and want a first-cleanse product that conditions while it cleans. It suits users who value botanical oil diversity and want barrier-supportive GLA from borage oil during cleansing. It is also a strong choice for fragrance-sensitive users who need a scent-free balm cleanser.
The ethylhexyl palmitate base is a concern for acne-prone skin types that react to comedogenic ingredients. Very oily skin that dislikes a dewy, oil-film finish will find the incomplete emulsification frustrating. Budget-conscious shoppers who want one product instead of both a balm and a second cleanser should choose a more completely emulsifying alternative.
Product details.
This solid butter melts into a silky oil on warm skin. It spreads easily without tugging. Adding water turns it into a milky emulsion that rinses off, though not always completely cleanly.
No added fragrance. The plant oils have a faint, natural buttery scent that is barely perceptible during use.
White jar with a green screw-top lid has a built-in magnetic spatula for hygienic scooping. A separate sachet of Bamboo Booster (bamboo and charcoal powder) allows for optional physical exfoliation. The packaging is recyclable without disassembly.
The first use is satisfying. The solid balm melts on contact and dissolves a full face of makeup with gentle circular motions. The oil-to-milk emulsification is smooth. Most users need a second cleanse to remove all residue. It causes no tingling or irritation.
2-3 months with evening-only use
12 months
All Year
The backstory.
Slaai launched in March 2019 as Drunk Elephant's answer to the cleansing balm craze, and the name is Afrikaans for 'salad' — a nod to the botanical oil blend inside. The product was designed to complement the Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser in a double-cleanse routine, providing the lipophilic first step that Beste No. 9 wasn't built to handle. The included Bamboo Booster was a unique addition — a mix-in powder of bamboo and charcoal for optional physical exfoliation.
About Drunk Elephant
Established Brand (5–20 years)Tiffany Masterson founded Drunk Elephant in 2012. Shiseido acquired Drunk Elephant for $845 million in 2019. Slaai won Allure Best of Beauty 2019 and the InStyle Readers' Choice Award 2019 during its launch year. Drunk Elephant uses fragrance-free, essential oil-free formulations for its cleansing balm category.
Common myths.
Cleansing balms clog pores because they're oil-based.
Cleansing balm oils dissolve sebum and makeup using the 'like dissolves like' principle, then emulsify with water and rinse away. They do not stay in pores. Because Slaai's ethylhexyl palmitate base has comedogenic potential, acne-prone skin needs a thorough second cleanse.
You need to double cleanse after every cleansing balm.
Use a second cleanse with Slaai. The emulsification is less complete than some competing balms, so a water-based second cleanser removes any oily residue. This is not a flaw in all balms; it is specific to how Slaai's emulsifier system works.
FAQ.
Do you need to double cleanse after using Slaai?
Yes — Drunk Elephant recommends using a water-based cleanser like Beste No. 9 after Slaai. Slaai's emulsification leaves a slight residual film that a second cleanse removes. This is standard for oil-based first cleansers and ensures subsequent treatment products penetrate properly.
Is Slaai good for acne-prone skin?
Use with caution. The first ingredient, ethylhexyl palmitate, has a comedogenicity rating of 2-4. The oils dissolve and rinse away, but acne-prone skin needs thorough second cleansing to monitor for breakouts. Oil cleansing is not inherently problematic for acne; the specific emollient base is the concern.
What is the Bamboo Booster that comes with Slaai?
A separate powder sachet contains bamboo stem extract and charcoal. Mix it into the Slaai balm 1-2 times per week for mild physical exfoliation. The grit helps slough off dead skin cells during the massage step. Use sparingly; over-exfoliating compromises the barrier.
Can Slaai remove waterproof makeup?
Yes — this is a strength. The oil-based formula dissolves waterproof mascara, long-wear foundation, and heavy sunscreen in 60 seconds of gentle massage on dry skin. Lipophilic oils break down stubborn formulas without tugging or irritation around the delicate eye area.
Is Slaai safe during pregnancy?
Yes — the ingredient list uses only plant oils, emollients, fruit extracts, and emulsifiers. It lacks retinoids, salicylic acid, hydroquinone, or other common pregnancy ingredients. This formula is one of the gentlest in Drunk Elephant's lineup.
What the community says.
"Effortlessly melts away heavy makeup including waterproof mascara"
"Leaves skin feeling soft, supple, and dewy after rinsing"
"Fragrance-free and gentle enough for sensitive eye area"
"Hygienic magnetic spatula prevents double-dipping contamination"
"Satisfying oil-to-milk transformation when water is added"
"Rich, luxurious texture that feels like a spa treatment"
"Doesn't emulsify as cleanly as some competing balms — leaves oily residue"
"Requires a thorough second cleanse to feel completely clean"
"At $39 for 3.88 oz, expensive for a first-cleanse product"
"Jar packaging is less convenient than tubes or pumps for wet hands"
"Some users experienced breakouts from the ethylhexyl palmitate base"
"Can cause temporary blurry vision when used around the eyes"
People also looked at.
