The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm 5 Fl Oz 150ml Dissolves Makeup Nourishing Skincare Gentle Cleanser Vegan Friendly

A million thanks to the Sephora team member who casually pointed me towards the INKEY list--the entire line has been blowing my mind! If you're looking for a nice, unfussy balm to take off your makeup before using another cleanser to wash your face (aka double cleansing), this is a fantastic option. I've tried all kinds of makeup removing balms from low to high price points, and the INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm is my new favorite. You get plenty of it for the price, which is great since I don't believe most brands when they say a dime-sized amount will take off all your makeup in every circumstance. Even if a little does go a long way, I wear a full face of makeup every day and need at least a quarter's worth of any balm to get everything off to my liking. This bottle is going to last me a good while, and it will go even farther for people who prefer the less is more model. More importantly, the formula is awesome, one of those simple and to the point gems. It's both gentle and very effective, a win/win for super sensitive/oily/prone to some serious hormonal acne skin like mine. It's a little thicker than some of the other balms I've tried, but that's been a plus for me. It feels like it's really gripping the makeup on my face rather than just slip-sliding around the top layers of it. This balm also just FEELS clean, if that makes sense--it's not chemical-y at all, it doesn't have any added scents, but it also doesn't smell too strongly or too strangely without them. Most makeup removing balms out there don't sting my eyes, but plenty do get into my eyes and leave a bit of a blurring film. It's another win/win situation with this balm: it removes every bit of makeup off my eyes (no morning raccoon eyes!) but doesn't stick around once I wipe it clean. For clarity, I do use a makeup eraser to wipe the balm off, which I think is a game-changing step no matter what balm you use. After I'm done double cleansing, my skin never feels tight, dry or itchy in between the cleansing and moisturizing steps, and the gentle formula in this balm is a big part of that. I've seen a couple reviewers who say their skin felt greasy after using the balm, but for my part, I've never experienced that. That might be more of an issue if you want to use this as a standalone cleanser, but my skin just feels soft and makeup-free when I use it, even before I reach for the cleanser to complete my double cleanse. In all, I love this simple and effective balm, and I'll definitely be adding it to my subscribe and save list. For the price and the quality, it's won me over from reaching for any other brand I've tried before. Read more

I have really dry and super sensitive skin. Legit even water alone will hurt my face. This is legitimately the ONLY product I've ever used that doesn't hurt my skin. Plus, it leaves it feeling moisturized when I leave the shower. When I have a friend stay the night and use it, they always mention how nice it is. Con: hard to get the very last bit out Read more

I've used a few of Inky List products so I wanted to give this one a try. I typically use a micellar cleansing balm. I like that this is in a bottle so that I don't have to scoop out the product but can squeeze it into my hands. The texture is a little lumpy but I don't mind because the product works really well and doesn't irritate my sensitive skin. I also feel like it's a good value for the amount of product you get. Read more

Absolutely fantastic for my dry skin. The first time you use it you’ll understand the comments of the feeling of it not being washed off but it soaks into the skin. Honestly I don’t feel it at all after my second cleanse my skin just loooves this stuff. I think the process for this is fantastic and Inkeylist has my heart. I’ve noticed more moisture in my skin, my barrier is being replenished. My face started healing almost immediately. Cannot say enough good things about this. It does say to use damp hands but I go on dry and rub a little water if needed. I wait until all the little beads are dissolved and go in with my water based cleanser (Burt’s bees sensitive wash) Read more

I was using this product wrong and it left me very frustrated. It is not a cleanser, despite what the tube says. But it is fantastic as a makeup remover BEFORE you cleanse, if you follow these steps. 1. Start with dry skin (ignore what the bottle says). • Don’t wet your face first. This balm works by melting into oils and breaking down makeup or sunscreen when massaged on dry skin. 2. Use a quarter-sized amount and warm it between your fingers. • It’s thick—almost like Vaseline—so warming it helps you spread it more evenly. 3. Massage into dry skin for at least 60–90 seconds. • Focus on areas with heavy makeup (eyes, lips, forehead, smile lines). • Think of it like loosening a stain—friction helps break down long-wear products. 4. Emulsify by adding a small splash of water to your face. • It’ll turn slightly milky. This step helps it rinse off more cleanly and prevents the greasy feeling. 5. Rinse thoroughly with warm water OR… • Better yet: Remove with a warm, damp washcloth. This will physically lift off the makeup and balm. 6. Follow with your cleanser. • This balm should always be Step 1 in a double cleanse. Read more

I wanted an affordable balm cleanser with fewer synthetic ingredients -- most of the brands that work well have a lot of ingredients I'd rather not use. This is good ingredient-wise, but although it does the job it's so oily I might as well just use a plant oil instead. I live in a cold place but the formula is almost always liquid and I have to store the tube on the narrow end so it doesn't leak everywhere. It does not rinse away fully, so I only use it in the first part of a double cleanse. There's no way I could use this in a hot climate. I have oily, acne-prone skin but it hasn't caused any pimples yet. Still, I would only recommend this for those with very dry skin. Read more