卸妆膏 (xièzhuānggāo): cleansing balm

The Chinese skincare market splits cleansers into 卸妆水 (xièzhuāngshuǐ, micellar water — light, watery), 卸妆油 (xièzhuāngyóu, oil — heavy makeup, sunscreen), and 卸妆膏 (xièzhuānggāo, balm — solid-to-oil, gentler than oil). 膏 (gāo) signals a thick paste/balm consistency.

culture

Korean and Japanese beauty brands popularized 卸妆膏 in China; DHC and Banila Co are recognizable references for many learners. Ranks high in Chinese 'skincare routine' (护肤步骤) tutorials on Xiaohongshu.