Index / The Inkey List / Oat Cleansing Balm
The Inkey List

Oat Cleansing Balm.

The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm
Cleansers

About this product

A cleansing balm formulated with oat that removes makeup and sunscreen and can be used as a first cleanse or face mask.

Best for

Dry skinSensitive skin
Cleansers

The Guru Index verdict

62%

Mixed

~Mixed · 62%
7Reviewers
2Approved
3Mixed
2Skip

What the gurus are saying

Gurus are sharply divided on this product, often citing a perceived reformulation as the culprit. Fans praise its affordability, makeup-removing power, and suitability for oily and acne-prone skin, but note texture inconsistency. Critics report separation, a gloopy consistency, reduced cleansing efficacy compared to an older formula, and occasional irritation. The split appears generational, with some mourning a superior past version.
Synthesized from 7 expert reviews

Key actives & flags

Vitamin CVitamin EFragrance-freeAlcohol-free

Full ingredients

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-6 Caprylic/​Capric Glycerides, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Oil 3.0%, Candelilla Cera (Cire De Candelilla), Silica, Sorbitan Stearate, Tribehenin, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour 1.0%, Aqua (Water/​Eau), Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil

Every take, in full

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Approved only Skip only Mixed only Hide sponsored
~Mixed
"It's one of the most effective cleansing balms I've ever used. Didn't dry me out and a great price as well. But the worst because sometimes the product separated. You'd open the lid, a load of oil would come out, and it was just next to impossible to squeeze out of the tube. After testing the new version, product separation is still an issue. The graininess has gone and it feels like a really nice rich cleansing balm. Very classic, does the job it needs to do. But there's still something wrong. Skin's not feeling dry or tight in any way and it does rinse away very nicely."
Skip
"The Inkey List reformulated and cheapened the ingredients they were using in the product and ruined what was an absolute gamechanging cleanser. People started complaining online that the product started separating, it didn't cleanse as well as before, and it was almost a little grainy on application. The brand never actually owned up to reformulating it, but thousands of people said this was a completely different cleanser. They tried to save a few pence or cents and ruined a perfectly good product."
All 3 takes from Mad About Skin
BEST CLEANSER 2023 - Move Over The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm
"I loved how you could use it as a mask or a cleanser, how it felt so calming and soothing on the skin, got rid of multiple layers of water resistant SPF and makeup and disappeared like that without a trace. It was like the best Holy Grail cleansing balm. Then for reasons not only to The Inkey List, I thought we could do better, let's reformulate it, and as a result it split before you even got halfway through the product. It didn't cleanse as well as it used to. I found it a little bit irritating on the skin and it used to come out separated in such a gloopy mess. Really wasn't the Holy Grail product it used to be. It wasn't just me. So many of you guys said exactly the same thing, that you'd moved away from it because it just wasn't working."
THE PERFECT CLEANSER 2026 - Bye Bye CeraVe and Hello Inkey List Oat Balm Cleanser
"This product launched about six or seven years ago and became an instant bestseller. It was one of the bestselling products from the Inkey List. Just about everyone used it from celebrities to content creators, influencers to humble skincare consumers. We all used it and absolutely loved it. It was the absolute go-to cleanser for so many people around six years ago."
THE PERFECT CLEANSER 2026 - Bye Bye CeraVe and Hello Inkey List Oat Balm Cleanser
"The Inkey List reformulated and cheapened the ingredients they were using in the product and ruined what was an absolute gamechanging cleanser. People started complaining online that the product started separating, it didn't cleanse as well as before, and it was almost a little grainy on application. The brand never actually owned up to reformulating it, but thousands of people said this was a completely different cleanser. They tried to save a few pence or cents and ruined a perfectly good product."
Skip
"My opinion still remains with this oat cleansing balm: I do not like the smell and I do not like the texture. But as you can see it is melting that makeup off."
Approved
"My oat cleansing balm from The Inkey List is nice and affordable and it's just really great for just like removing your sunscreen at the end of the day."
~Mixed
"The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm, I didn't love or hate it."
~Mixed
"This is the Oat Cleansing Balm from The Inkey List and I have to say I love this. It's one of their best sellers but some people hate this. For me it is an absolute favorite. I love this as a first cleanse because it breaks down makeup and sunscreen so well and you get so much and it's so inexpensive. Yes, it's a little gloopy on the tube and it can be a little bit separating, but for the price I just mix it back up. This is a miss for many people but this is absolutely a hit for me. This is amazing if you have oily, combo, or acne prone skin if you're looking for an excellent inexpensive cleanser that gets the job done."
Approved
"Another really affordable and great cleansing balm is from Inkey List, their Oat Cleansing Balm. This is a thicker balm, and I actually sometimes use this in the shower. It's very gentle and it works fairly well. I don't find it to work as effectively at removing my eye makeup, but for all the sunscreen it works great and it rinses off really nicely with minimal residue."
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