We’ve Spent Months Testing The INKEY List’s New Oat Cleansing Balm – But Is It Better?
Main image – Courtesy of writer
Fans of The INKEY List will no doubt be familiar with its mega-viral Oat Cleansing Balm, an oil-based cleanser that promises to lift off makeup and SPF in one full cleanse.
In May this year though, the brand took a risk, renaming it Oat Balm Cleanser and reformulating it after a whopping 129 formulations over four years. Gone is the colloidal oat powder that some complained made it gritty, while the new formula promises even more effective cleansing.
Live That Glow’s Editor in Chief Sally Underwood has been using the original since 2019 and loves it so much she’s recommended it to pretty much everyone. I, on the other hand, have only used the new one. So, I tapped Sally up for her thoughts on the original to compare with mine on the reformulation. Teamwork!
Image – Courtesy of writer
I’ve now been using mine for a couple of months, which feels like the perfect time to compare notes. I wouldn’t normally choose an oil-based cleanser thanks to my oily, acne-prone skin, but my skin has always reacted well to oats. And with hormonal changes leaving it particularly angry and spotty lately, I was keen to see whether this could help.
I wanted something that would soothe my redness, talk down my angry spots and melt into my skin like butter, without leaving it greasy or making any of my skin woes worse. Here’s how I got on…
The old formula
The old and new formulas have slightly different names. However, I’ve noticed that on various websites, (including The INKEY List’s own site) the product still has the same name as the old one (Oat Cleansing Balm), despite being labelled with ‘new formula’. It has been confirmed that the new one has a new name (Oat Balm Cleanser), albeit a very slight variation of the original, so if you’re confused just know it’s not you and you’re not going mad.
The old formula itself was well-loved with just a few pain points that users kept complaining about. “I absolutely loved the original for how effectively it removed makeup and cleansed my skin, but it was thick and slightly gritty, which I particularly disliked around my eyes,” says Sally.
“It also left a noticeable oily residue, and the tube was so difficult to squeeze towards the end that I used to cut mine open to get the last of the product out!”
What’s changed in The INKEY List Oat Balm Cleanser?
The re-launch (£15 from Boots UK /$17 from Sephora US) promises a smoother, richer texture thanks to the removal of colloidal oat powder and there has been an increase in oat kernel oil – from 3% to 5%.
Image – Courtesy of writer
The brand has also added anti-inflammatory properties, sea buckthorn oil and a natural wax blend to improve skin benefits, introduced more effective emulsifiers and, according to the brand, the new version removes waterproof makeup and SPF in 30 seconds and hydrates skin for up to 12 hours.
The brand has also addressed the packaging too – the new tube is softer and thinner which promises to make it easier to squeeze out ‘every last drop’ and this also means the brand has reduced its plastic use by 16 tonnes per year. Gold star.
How I tested The INKEY List Oat Balm Cleanser
I have now been using the new formula for two months, every morning and evening. In the evening, I use a Garnier micellar water first to loosen my makeup and then use Oat Balm Cleanser as my second cleanse, but it is worth noting that I do this with all of my water cleansers as I wear quite heavy makeup. In the morning, it is the only cleanser I use.
My first impressions
You need to shake the bottle quite vigorously before first squeezing this out. I learned the hard way and was met with a handful of runny oil the first few times I used it.
Not a great start. Once it had been shaken properly and had mixed into a balm, the texture is what I would call normal for a balm cleanser – not too thick, not too runny – and super (duper) smooth. It smells of absolutely nothing – my usual preference is to have some sort of fragrance in my skincare but it’s not a deal breaker and it’s perfect for those who hate scented products.
Image – Courtesy of writer
I rubbed it between my fingers and applied it directly onto dry skin. The balm melted in beautifully and felt gorgeously smooth. It’s quite alarming for someone with oily skin to see that much oil on their skin all at the same time but once I added a bit of water, it emulsified and turned into more of a milk.
Image – Courtesy of writer
Whilst I could have done with a bit more emulsion, it moved around my skin well and I massaged it around my skin for around 20 seconds. It didn’t feel like it was doing much but I kept the faith. Next, I rinsed with warm water – it seemed to wash off fairly quickly and I didn’t feel any stinging around or in my eyes which I can sometimes get from other water cleansers. My skin didn’t feel tight afterwards either. It felt comfortably hydrated and, crucially, not oily or greasy.
My results after (2 months)
After two months of using this twice a day, I can honestly say I truly love this cleanser and trust me, no one is as surprised as me. An oil-based cleanser would normally be at the bottom of my priority list, but I swear the clue is in the oats. Plus, oily skin still needs hydration, so a balm still works even for us oily skin types!
I find that this cleanser is a really gentle way of cleaning my skin – it’s not abrasive in any way which works for when my skin is particularly red and angry and, whilst I would like it to have a bit more emulsion when mixed with water, it really does seem to lift off every trace of makeup and dirt. Honestly? It doesn’t feel like it’s doing much when you’re using it but I’ve tested the cleanliness of my skin on a cotton pad afterwards – it’s clean.
I have noticed it has massively calmed my skin down too over time. It hasn’t got rid of my acne – I never expected it to – but after a day of wearing makeup my acne can look extra red and cross. After cleansing with this balm though, the redness is noticeably reduced, and my skin feels more content.
I haven’t experienced super-greasy skin since using it, nor have I noticed my skin drying out. In fact, it feels very balanced despite being in a tricky place hormonally. I even had a bit of eczema under my nose recently and dabbed a bit of the balm onto it before going to bed. I didn’t rinse it off, I just left it there to absorb and the next morning, the eczema was barely noticeable. I’m telling you – oats are the holy grail for troubled skin! And this cleanser is the real deal.
Having tried the new formula Sally says, “the new formula is thinner, completely smooth and rinses away with virtually no residue. It’s just as effective at cleansing, and the softer tube is a big improvement.” However, she adds that it might now be slightly too runny for her. “I’m already on my second bottle because the first kept pouring out when I opened it, meaning I got through it far too quickly. The second has been much better, though.” I completely agree about the runniness, but once I had given it a huge shake the first time, I didn’t have to do it again.
What other users are saying
So, how do longtime fans of The INKLEY List’s Oat Cleansing Balm feel about the reformulation? It seems they are torn – on Reddit Various_Repeat isn’t a fan. “I tried it hoping it wouldn’t be so bad It’s so runny!! I have dry, sensitive skin and I loved the old thick consistency! I know it was a pain to get the last bits out the bottle but I didn’t mind.”
On the other hand, Nat writes, “New formula of the cleanser is much easier to dispense from the packaging. It’s like a milk on my skin after adding water and removes makeup without any extra rubbing on my face . 10/10 favourite item from inkey.” While Natta says, “I am absolutely amazed with that product. I used it on my skin for few weeks now and I am so happy with it. It’s gentle on the skin and perfect for sensitive skin.”
Is the new Oat Balm Cleanser worth the increased price?
The INKEY List claims that a 150ml tube (which now costs £15) provides around 100 cleanses (3.5 months) using a raspberry sized amount. That’s just 15p per cleanse. In my experience, that is pretty realistic – I still have plenty left in my tube two months in so those numbers roughly tally for me. Sally on the other hand noticed that her first bottle only lasted 1.5 months as it was so runny however, the brand does mention that the formula softens in warmer temperatures – something I have definitely noticed – so maybe where you store it is key.
£15 is a lot more expensive than other cleansers. The brand argue that if you bought a cheaper bottle of cleanser in store, it would have a thinner formula that you’d need to use more of. So, even though it is cheaper when you first buy it, it will run out more quickly than this thicker formula.
I do get it, but I’m afraid I’m not buying the claim that this product offers a full cleanse. As someone who wears full coverage makeup every day, I simply wouldn’t be able to remove it all once with just this, it needs a helping hand in the form of either two cleanses or a swipe of a micellar water first. And this costs me more, whichever way you look at it.
Having said all of that, I would still buy it again (and plan on doing so). Another cleansing balm that I absolutely love is Balance Me Super Berry Cleansing Balm which costs around three times the price – the only difference I can see between the two of them is that the Balance Me one smells gorgeous but The INKEY List one lasts longer and is kinder to my skin. Go figure!
The takeaway
As you can see, this new formulation has worked its magic on my troubled skin and seems to have solved most of the negatives Sally found in the old one.
Not only is it kind to my skin but it does the job it promises to do too. I may need to use my micellar water first for a helping hand but there is no doubt about it, this cleanser will now be in my permanent skincare regime.
