The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm

Evidence-led ingredient analysis, a transparent clean score out of 100 and cleaner, effective alternatives at three price levels.

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The INKEY List

Oat Cleansing Balm

Skincare · Budget: £11.99

4.5 (18,500 reviews)· across Boots, LookFantastic, Cult Beauty, Amazon UK, Sephora UK, The INKEY List

Pending verification

Ingredients: AI-inferred — not yet verified

An exceptionally gentle, budget-friendly nourishing balm cleanser that effectively melts away sunscreen and makeup while soothing the skin barrier. Please note: the ingredient list was inferred based on official published manufacturer disclosures.

Hazard categories

92Est.
Pending verification~92 · Safe / Clean (estimated)

Estimated score out of 100

Formulation score is fixed across Selenssa · Community effectiveness awaiting more reports

Based on publicly available ingredients, following our methodology. Not medical advice — always check the physical label, especially for allergies. How we score →

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Shareable page: selenssa.com/product/the-inkey-list-oat-cleansing-balm

Highly recommended for users seeking an accessible, fragrance-free balm cleanser for sensitive or dry skin. Those strictly avoiding ethoxylated ingredients or known to react to benzyl alcohol may prefer a PEG-free alternative.

Be cautious if

May be a concern for highly sensitive users sensitive to benzyl alcohol or those prone to severe nut allergies due to sweet almond oil.

Against your clean standard

Meets standard clean criteria across all major safety metrics, with only a minor ethoxylated emulsifier typical of rinse-off cleansers.

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Where this score comes from

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Score history

No score changes have been recorded for this product yet.

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Does The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm contain parabens, sulfates or fragrance?

A straight yes or no for the ingredient groups people most often want to avoid, checked against this product's published formulation.

  • Free from parabens

    Preservatives; the longer-chain ones (propyl, butyl) carry the endocrine questions.

  • Free from sulfates (sls / sles)

    Strong cleansing agents that can strip a compromised barrier.

  • Free from silicones

    Slip and occlusion; cyclic silicones (D4/D5/D6) are the environmentally restricted ones.

  • Free from fragrance / parfum

    Undisclosed fragrance blends are the most common trigger for sensitised skin.

  • Free from essential oils

    Naturally derived, but among the most frequently reported contact allergens.

  • Contains drying alcohol

    Found: phenoxyethanol. Fine in small amounts for texture; high up the list it can dehydrate.

  • Free from formaldehyde releasers

    Preservatives that slowly release formaldehyde.

  • Free from chemical uv filters of concern

    Restricted or debated filters with endocrine or reef-persistence questions.

Is The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm non-comedogenic?

This formulation contains 1 ingredient commonly associated with clogged pores — cetearyl alcohol. That does not make it unsuitable for everyone: comedogenicity depends on concentration, the rest of the formula and your own skin. If you are acne-prone, patch test or choose one of the alternatives below.

Is The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm safe for sensitive skin?

Generally a reasonable choice for sensitive skin.

  • No fragrance or parfum in the list
  • Contains a drying alcohol

Ingredients worth knowing about: PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Benzyl Alcohol.

The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm full ingredients list

14 ingredients analysed, in the order Selenssa assessed them. Concentration generally falls as you move down the list.

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Oil, Candelilla Cera (Candelilla Wax), Silica, Sorbitan Stearate, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Water (Aqua/Eau), Dehydroacetic Acid.

The actives doing the work: Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Oil (Delivers rich lipids and natural ceramides to rebuild and soothe compromised skin.); Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour (Colloidal oat powder known to calm itchiness and soothe surface irritation.); Tocopherol (Vitamin E acts as a protective antioxidant for both the formula and the skin.).

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