There are plenty of cleansers that make bold promises on the label and deliver very little once you actually use them. You've probably experienced it: the balm that leaves a greasy film, the micellar water that takes ten cotton pads and still misses the mascara, the foaming cleanser that leaves your skin feeling tight and stripped twenty minutes later. We're done with that. So here's something different.
Still relying on face wipes or micellar water? Here's why they're not actually cleansing your skin - and what to use instead.
This is an honest, science-backed guide to exactly what you can expect from The INKEY List's New and Improved Oat Cleansing Balm - from the very first 30 seconds of use, all the way through to four weeks of consistent daily cleansing. Real timelines. Real customers. Real results.
This is a cleanser that has been clinically proven to do something most people don't believe a cleanser can do: not just remove makeup and SPF thoroughly, but actively improve your skin's texture, radiance, smoothness, plumpness and redness - with results appearing instantly and continuing to build over four weeks. Based on both consumer trials and clinical studies of up to 29 participants, these aren't marketing claims. They're measured, documented outcomes.
No filters. No misleading before-and-afters. Just the truth about what a genuinely upgraded
Why the New & Improved Formula Delivers Different Results
Our previous formula contained 3% Oat Kernel Oil. The new one contains 5% and adds Sea Buckthorn Oil for the first time. These aren't cosmetic revisions. They're the reason the clinical results exist.
5% Oat Kernel Oil is rich in ceramides and omega 3 & 6 fatty acids — the same lipid classes that make up your skin's natural barrier. Research published on PubMed confirms that oat-derived lipid extracts increase stratum corneum lipid content, improve intercellular lipid lamellae, and enhance both skin hydration and smoothness.
Sea Buckthorn Oil — added in this new formula — is rich in flavonoids, antioxidants and omega fatty acids with well-documented anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Research published on PubMed shows it inhibits pro-inflammatory signalling pathways and promotes skin tissue repair.
The formula also emulsifies more completely than the previous version - rinsing away as a clean milky wash with zero post-rinse film, confirmed by 29 consumer trial participants.
Read: Bio-Active Ceramides vs Regular Ceramides: The Science Behind the Difference →
In Just 30 Seconds: Removes 100% of Waterproof Makeup & SPF
Removes 100% of waterproof makeup and SPF in 30 seconds
Instantly soothes and calms skin
Leaves no residue on skin*
*Based on a consumer trial with 29 participants
In a consumer trial with 29 participants, the Oat Cleansing Balm removed 100% of waterproof makeup and SPF in 30 seconds. Not most of it. Everything.
If you've been using cotton pads, face wipes or a micellar water that still leaves mascara behind - this is a different category of cleanser.
How to Remove Sunscreen Properly: Why Double Cleansing Matters →
How to Remove Makeup Properly (Without Damaging Your Skin) →
"I wear SPF daily and top up throughout the day so I need a gentle cleanser that REALLY cleans my skin and I think I've found my forever purchase!!! Left my 50 year old face so squeaky clean."
— Sheena A., 45–54, Normal Skin, 1–3 months use.
Real Results, Real People
Sophia
Leila
From the Very First Use: Clinically Proven Improvements in Texture, Radiance & Smoothness
Clinically proven to instantly improve skin texture*
Clinically proven to instantly improve skin radiance and smoothness**
**Based on a clinical trial with 29 participants over 4 weeks
Most people treat the cleanser as a neutral step. The clinical data says otherwise.
Texture, radiance and smoothness improve from the very first use - for two reasons. First, a full day's SPF, makeup, sebum and surface dead cells scatters light and roughens the skin's surface. Remove it thoroughly and the skin underneath is immediately smoother and more radiant. Second, the ceramides and omega fatty acids deposited by the Oat Kernel Oil create a more even skin surface at a lipid level, improving how light reflects off the skin.
These improvements are also cumulative - each cleanse builds on the last, so the instant improvement you see on day one becomes the new baseline by week four.
"Nice texture and sinks straight into skin. Removed double wear foundation no problem and it left my dry skin soft. Great cleanser!"
— Bev, 55–64, Dry Skin
Real Results, Real People
Sarah
Hannah
12 Hours Later: What Clinically Proven Hydration Actually Feels Like
Clinically proven 12hr hydration**
***Based on a clinical trial with 23 participants over 24 hours
Most cleansers disrupt the skin's lipid barrier as a byproduct of removing everything else. That tight, uncomfortable feeling 20 minutes after cleansing? It's your barrier telling you it's been stripped. It shouldn't be normal.
Our Oat Cleansing Balm works the other way. The ceramides and fatty acids deposited during cleansing reinforce the barrier and reduce transepidermal water loss - actively hydrating skin for up to 12 hours, confirmed in a clinical trial with 23 participants.
What Is TEWL and How to Prevent It →
If you notice your skin frequently feeling tight after cleansing, losing hydration by midday, or looking dull and fine-lined by afternoon — these are often signs of dehydrated skin, not just dry skin. Learn how to identify and treat dehydrated skin →
7 Signs Your Skin Is Dehydrated That You Might Be Missing →
"Skin feels lovely after using this balm, it is very soothing and smells lovely. Consistency is great and has lovely little grains of oat which is not harsh on the skin. My skin is sensitive and this balm suits my skin."
— Tracy W., 55–64, Sensitive Skin, redness and dryness concerns
Real Results, Real People
Lauren
Sophia
After 4 Weeks: Visibly Plumper, Calmer, Less Red Skin - Clinically Proven
Clinically proven to improve skin plumpness after 4 weeks* |
Clinically proven to reduce skin redness after 4 weeks**
**Based on a clinical trial with 29 participants over 4 weeks
This is the section that changes how you think about cleansers.
Plumpness is directly tied to how well the skin barrier retains moisture. Four weeks of twice-daily barrier reinforcement - ceramides and omega fatty acids deposited with every cleanse - progressively reduces water loss. The result is clinically measurable: visibly plumper skin.
Dehydration Lines vs Wrinkles: How to Tell Them Apart →
Redness reduction follows a similar logic. Sea Buckthorn Oil's anti-inflammatory compounds work against the signalling pathways that drive redness, delivered twice a day, every day. After four weeks, the clinical data shows measurably reduced visible redness.
Real Results, Real People
Kate
Millie
Getting the Most from Our Oat Cleansing Balm
How to Document Your Oat Cleansing Balm Results
One of the most rewarding things you can do with any consistent skincare change is track it. The skin doesn't transform overnight - but four weeks of photographs tells a more honest story than memory does. To capture your Oat Cleansing Balm journey properly:
- Use natural light from a window - avoid flash, which flattens texture and distorts redness
- Photograph at the same time each morning, before applying any products and with no makeup on
- Keep your angle and distance consistent - the same spot, the same distance, every time
- Take both front-facing and 45-degree profile shots - redness and texture changes show differently from different angles
- Allow 30–60 minutes after waking before taking photos, to let any sleep-related puffiness settle
Even just a weekly photo is enough to see a genuine progression over four weeks.
How to Apply for Best Results
The 30-second claim isn't just a claim - it's a technique instruction. Here's how to get every benefit this formula has to offer:
1. Start with dry skin and dry hands. Balm applied to wet skin won't have the same makeup-dissolving contact
2. Take a raspberry-sized amount - this is more than you think you need, but the right amount for thorough coverage
3. Massage gently but deliberately for 30 seconds - set a timer if you're not used to it. This is the moment the makeup dissolves, the Sea Buckthorn Oil soothes and the ceramides deposit into your barrier
4. Add warm water to emulsify - the balm will turn milky white as it transforms
5. Rinse thoroughly - the creamy milk rinse is the formula's answer to residue
6. Pat skin dry and continue with your routine
INKEY Tip: Leave this balm on for 10 minutes once or twice a week as a nourishing face mask. See exactly how to use it as a face mask and why it works →
Why does our Oat Cleansing Balm come in a tube rather than a pot? There's a hygiene reason - and it matters for your skin →
As a double cleanse: Use the Oat Cleansing Balm as your first cleanse to dissolve SPF and makeup, then follow with a water-based second cleanser — Milk Cleanser or Salicylic Acid Cleanser — for the most thorough possible result. New to double cleansing? Read The Complete Guide to Double Cleansing.- for the most thorough possible result.
Your Optimal INKEY Cleansing Routine
Morning:
1. Oat Cleansing Balm (£15)
2. Hyaluronic Acid Serum (£9) - on damp skin
3. Bio-Active Ceramide Moisturiser (£19)
4. Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30 (£15)
Evening (Double Cleanse):
1. Oat Cleansing Balm (£15)- first cleanse, removes SPF and makeup
2. Milk Cleanser (£13) - second cleanse
3. Serum or treatment of choice
4. Bio-Active Ceramide Moisturiser (£19)
Who Benefits Most?
Our Oat Cleansing Balm works for all skin types - and is confirmed safe for sensitive eyes, blemish-prone skin, pregnancy and breastfeeding, and skin under 12. But here's what you can realistically expect based on your primary skin concern:
- Makeup and SPF wearers: The 30-second, 100% removal claim was tested on exactly your situation.
- Sensitive or reactive skin: You'll feel the soothing from the first use and see redness reduction after four weeks. → Best Cleansers for Sensitive Skin
- Dry skin: The 12-hour clinically proven hydration starts during the cleanse itself.
- Skin with redness, uneven texture or dullness: Instant improvement in radiance and smoothness.
- Double cleanse devotees: The perfect oil-phase first step. → Best Cleansers for Blemish-Prone Skin
- Oily or combination skin wearing SPF daily: → Why Oily Skin Gets Dehydrated Too
The Clinical Proof Is In. Are You Ready to See Your Oat Cleansing Balm Results?
Removes 100% of waterproof makeup and SPF in 30 seconds. Clinically proven 12-hour hydration. Instantly improves texture, radiance and smoothness. Clinically proven to improve plumpness and reduce redness after four weeks. Zero residue. Fragrance-free. Vegan. Pregnancy-safe. £15.
At just 15p per cleanse - here's why the numbers make it the smartest skincare buy you'll make this year.
