The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm Review: A Multitasking Marvel

The vast majority of my thinking time I spend on skincare is spent on cleansers, so it stands to reason I’m going to provide a fair few cleanser reviews on this blog. This INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm review is my latest test run on a popular cleanser and one, in particular, I was excited to try out.

I love a good cleanser. If I was forced to pick my favourite step in my skincare routine, it would be the cleanser step – the first step. There’s something so refreshing about it – clearing away the day and feeling like your skin can breathe.

I had heard a lot of good reports about this oat balm cleanser, and INKEY list products in general, so I had high hopes. Spoiler alert part 1 – my experience initially wasn’t one that I had expected.

If this cleanser has been on your radar, I hope this INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm review will help you decide if it’s for you…….or at the very least you’ll learn from my silly mistake in reading instructions properly. Spoiler alert part 2 – my experience ended positively!

Related posts:
– KIEHL’S ULTRA FACIAL CLEANSER REVIEW: HOW TO ACHIEVE FRESH, CLEAN SKIN

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and related sites. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
This post may contain affiliate links which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through links with no additional charge to you. I will only recommend products and companies that I have personally used. Learn more on my disclaimer page

The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm Review: The Overview

In 2020 this product was a Best Of Beauty Allure Award Winner in the “Steal” category. Quite rightly too as it’s a great product and for only £11.99 for 150mls on their website……and that’s 2023 prices.

I mentioned this product in my 15 best multi-purpose products for busy moms, as it can be used as a 1st cleanser, a double cleanser, eye make-up remover and, this one I love, a deep nourishing mask! Girly squeal!!

That’s a 4 in 1! You can see why I was desperate to give it a try……

As I say, they claim it can “Melt away makeup, SPF and impurities in one swipe”. It’s formulated to deep cleanse and “dissolve all visible traces of makeup including waterproof and long wear products”.

Suitable for all skin types including sensitive and has a “non-stripping, non-drying formula with a soft rich texture” – a real one-size fits-all!

Its main standout ingredients, the USP if you will, are oat kernel oil and colloidal oatmeal. The oat kernel oil contains omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and ceramides that remove impurities. The colloidal oatmeal helps to smooth dry and sensitive skin.

Other claims from The INKEY list are:

• It hydrates & nourishes and leaves skin more glowing
• Maintains skin barrier
• Clinically proven to cleanse without drying the skin
• Clinically proven to be suitable for dry and sensitive skin

The last two claims are from a 4-week independent consumer study of 22 people under dermatological & ophthalmological control.

Do these claims stack up? That’s exactly what this INKEY List oat Cleansing Balm review intends to find out!

The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm Ingredients – The Star Ingredients

Oat Kernel Flour – An antioxidant and soother that is a finely milled form of Oat Extract that contains anti-inflammatory beta-glucan, nourishing lipids, and moisturizing carbohydrates. It’s especially helpful for those with dry, irritated, inflamed, or eczema-prone skin, as it calms, hydrates, and promotes skin barrier function.

Oat Kernel Oil – a soother and emollient which is the fixed oil expressed from the kernels of the Oat. The oil contains ceramide, a lipid that can be naturally found in the epidermis. This creates a barrier on the skin alongside sebum to protect it and maintain moisture.

Tocopherol – A strong antioxidant with Vitamin E activity that also has some emollient properties. One of the best at protecting our collagen from free radicals, and due to being fat soluble, is very easily absorbed by our skin. It also protects our skin from UVB damage. 

Its Scent

• The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm is fragrance-free…..a great bonus. Fragrance is a pointless addition to skincare that serves no purpose other than the potential to cause irritation and sensitivity! 
  
  
• There are no hidden added fragrances in this product. A lot of companies do this to hide the unsavoury smell of the useful ingredients.
  
  
• One thing to mention, however, because there are no hidden fragrances, there is a slight unsavoury smell of the useful ingredients. Please do understand, it’s nothing too bad, more of a slight background smell.
  
  
• I asked my kids to describe it and they all independently of each other described it as “faint paint”. This sounds horrific, and weirdly I can see where they are coming from, but I would describe it as a clinical oaty smell.

Its Texture

• It’s a runny balm……soft and gooey. There’s something quite satisfying about it! It’s formulated to instantly melt from a balm into an oil when it’s massaged into the skin.
  
  
• Due to the oil content of this product, it’s very susceptible to temperature changes. There can be a change in viscosity in various climates.
  
  
• In colder climates (or rooms) it can get quite hard and difficult to squeeze out of the tube. Just run the tube under a warm tap to soften the balm.
  
  
• In warmer climates (or rooms) it can get quite liquified. This was certainly my experience and the reason it sometimes leaked out. It almost seemed to separate for me, which makes sense as they do recommend giving it a good shake before use.
  
  
• Further advice they give, if it’s too runny, is to store it away from direct sunlight. You can pop it into the fridge for 15-30 minutes.
  

Its Packaging and Use-By-Date

• A comes in a simple white and black tube with the typical INKEY List branding.
  
  
• The INKEY List always provides a little key on their packaging to let you know what step in your skincare regime that product is. Quite straightforward when it comes to a cleanser like this, however, I think that’s very useful for other steps.
  
  
• Comes in 2 sizes: 150mls and the travel size 50mls.
  
  
• The use-by-date is 6 months from the point it has been opened.

• It has a screw-top lid, which isn’t always my favourite. I sometimes found if I made my face damp, by the time I got the lid off, my face had dried. If took the lid off, and sat it on the side to dampen my face, some of the product leaked out. First-world problems, I know!
  

• I also found the lid slightly annoying. It was creaky and felt like it could fall apart easily.
  
  
• On the plus side, it is all recyclable

Its Purchase Locations

• Buy this product from Amazon here.
• Other stockists include Sephora and Cult Beauty

The Directions

• This is where I had serious issues with this product and I’m here to ensure you all don’t make the same mistake. The directions on the tube, which I’m fairly sure was all that I received when I purchased it, say to “gently massage a small amount onto dampened face and neck”.
  
  
• Now I don’t know about you all, but a small amount of any product is approximately a pea-sized amount. Not, as it seems it should have been, a “raspberry-sized” amount that is directed on their website. This makes a world of difference to this product everyone!! More of this later……
  
  
• Carrying on, massage your “raspberry-sized” amount into your dampened face and massage, working it into the skin. Incidently, the product says “dampened skin” but the website says “dry skin”. Hmmm!!
  
  
• Add a bit more water if you want to emulsify it further, then rinse it thoroughly off with or without a cloth.

• If you are double cleansing this would go first as it is oil-based and effective at removing SPF and makeup. It can, however, be used as a double cleanser.
  
  
• If using it as a mask, during your second cleanse leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing off for added nourishment. You can do this once or twice a week.
  
  
• If using it to remove eye make-up, hold a damp cotton pad with cleanser on the eyes or eyelashes for an extra 5-10 seconds before wiping it away.
  
  
• Can be used as both am and pm cleanser

Who Is It For?

• The website says it’s suitable for all skin types including, and especially, sensitive skins, and those with dry skin.
  
  
• Naturally, I have oily skin, but due to using Tretinoin, this was particularly useful when I was going through dry periods. I can honestly say I did not feel any tightness after using the product – something that has started for me with other cleansers recently.
  
  
• My skin is also classified as sensitive due to the Tretinoin, and yes, it can sting occasionally. No problem with stinging with this product though.
  
  
• The Oat Kernel Flour is a soother, a skin protector and has antioxidant benefits, so is great for irritated, inflamed or eczema-prone skin.
  
  
• Anyone who wants vegan and cruelty-free products.

Who Is It Not For?

• This product contains nuts or ingredients derived from nuts – if you have a serious anaphylactic allergy to nuts I would avoid it
  
  
• Avoid it if you have an allergy to oats. My brother has an anaphylactic allergy to oats and I know he would be scared to go in the same room as this product. I have more of a food intolerance to oats, as in gastric reactions, and am fine with it.
  
  
• Oat Cleansing Balm is aimed more towards dry and sensitive skin. Yes, you can use it if your skin is oily but you might find it too much for you. This was my experience when I wasn’t going through self-inflicted dry spells, as my skin is naturally oily.
  
  
• If you are more on the oilier end of the spectrum you might find the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser more your cup of tea. You can catch my review on that here.

Related posts:
– CAUDALIE RESVERATROL LIFT REVIEW – POWERFUL NIGHT CREAM OF YOUR DREAMS?
– KIEHL’S ULTRA FACIAL CLEANSER REVIEW: HOW TO ACHIEVE FRESH, CLEAN SKIN

The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm Review…….And The Results Are In

• The reviews on The INKEY List website show an average of 4.2 stars out of 5 from 978 reviews. Boots, Sephora and Look Fantastic are about the same give or take a 0.2 of a star.
  
  
• I struggled initially with this product, as I’m sure you’ve guessed by me using a pea-sized amount. It didn’t go anywhere near trying to remove makeup. I also struggled to get it to spread around my face even when my face was damp (do not waste a single blob of this product using it on a dry face!). I should have been thinking raspberry, not pea……
  
  
• I used a good 3/4 of this product before I clocked on to using a heck of a lot more……and wowsers, what a difference! All of my makeup came off, including my waterproof mascara and bright red lip stain lipstick. So yes, it removes makeup.
  
  
• One thing I’m still not sure of is, and there’s no other word as good as this, the sliminess of the product. It feels a bit like trying to wash the soap off your hands in a soft water area when you’re used to being in a hard water area. If you live in a soft water area then you’ll have no problem with this……I got used to it anyway!
  
  
• The softness I felt with my skin, is something I’ve never experienced before with a cleanser, and that was using a pea-sized amount that got washed straight off. It was remarkable!
  

• I found it a bit annoying that I had to have my face at just the right amount of dampness for it to spread correctly. Not damp enough and it didn’t spread, too damp and it seemed to disappear.
  
  
• The price of this item has got to be mentioned – £11.99 is an amazing price for any skincare product, but one as good as this is fantastic!

Related posts:
– HOW TO APPLY RETINOL FOR BEGINNERS – THE ULTIMATE GUIDE

Pros and Cons

Let’s Wrap This Up…….

I hope this INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm review has been helpful for you. If you feel it ticks all the boxes for you go ahead and click the links to the product pages.

My relationship with this product started slightly rocky, but I think we can say that was down to communication issues! Over time I learned to love it.

You really can’t do any better for the price. The standout benefit for me was the softness it gave my face afterwards – not something that I normally ask of my cleanser.

Yes, a lot of the product is required to do the job (remember, think raspberry, not pea!). It’s just as well it’s such a good price!

The other USP of this product is the 4 in 1 multi-purpose benefit it provides. I included in my top 15 multi-purpose skincare products for mums for a reason – it really DOES save us time!

Overall, a lovely moisturising cleanser that in my opinion does live up to its claims…..and more!

Please do let me know your experiences with this product if you’ve tried it, or do ask if you have any questions. I’m here to answer to all!

Related posts:
– SKINCARE FOR MOMS: 15 OF THE BEST MULTI PURPOSE PRODUCTS