🇪🇸Spain

The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm for oily skin

The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm
  • Avena Sativa Kernel Oil Oat Kernel Oil
  • Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
  • Candelilla Cera Cire De Candelilla Cera
  • Tocopherol Vitamin E
  • Biosaccharide Gum-4

Average

  • AverageOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for oily skin; other pre-cleansers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers moderate suitability for oily skin as Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil and Avena Sativa Kernel Oil effectively dissolve makeup and cleanse pores, though Cetearyl Alcohol may not be ideal for managing excess sebum.
  • The formula provides general cleansing benefits that you will notice, but lacks targeted ingredients to address your oily shine concerns.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Use this makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine. Start 3×/week and increase to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
  • Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser and toner. It prepares your skin by melting away excess oil and makeup.
  • Gently press a small amount onto your dry skin using your fingertips. Massage softly and avoid harsh rubbing to protect your pores.
  • Apply this product on dry skin to effectively break down heavy makeup and surface oil. Massage it gently before washing it off with water.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin feels comfortable.

People Say

★4.2Overall rating based on 8.5k+ reviews

Users frequently mention texture separation and packaging issues, with some also noting an oily residue or occasional grainy texture.

Highlights

  • Excellent value Mostly Mentioned
    • “One of the best balms for quality and also price”
    • “Great value for money”
    • “A steal for the amount of product you get”
    • “Beats other balms in terms of price”
  • Gentle and soothing Mostly Mentioned
    • “Safe and gentle especially for my dry, sensitive skin”
    • “Soothes irritation and calms redness”
    • “Absolutely bombproof for sensitive and angry skin”
  • Texture separation Mostly Mentioned
    • “Tube leaks liquified oil when opened”
    • “Came out as a runny oil instead of a balm”
    • “Product separates creating oil leakage”
    • “Had to massage the tube to mix it back together”
  • Effective makeup removal Often Mentioned
    • “Melts away makeup and impurities without drying”
    • “Took off my waterproof mascara 100x easier”
    • “Dissolves all visible traces of makeup”
    • “Great at removing minimal makeup or sunscreen”
  • Hydrating and moisturizing Often Mentioned
    • “Skin feels instantly hydrated, nourished and looks more glowing”
    • “Leaves my skin feeling comfortable and moist”
    • “Can be left on for 10 minutes as a mask”
    • “Perfect for dry skin during the winter”
  • Poor packaging Often Mentioned
    • “Very difficult to squeeze out at first”
    • “Tube gets dirty easily and cap leaks”
    • “Had to use both hands to get it out”
    • “Hard to extract remaining product”
  • Oily residue Sometimes Noted
    • “Leaves a greasy film on face after washing”
    • “Felt like I needed to triple cleanse”
    • “Leaves a light residue requiring a washcloth”
    • “Vision gets blurry if it gets in eyes”
  • Grainy texture Rarely Noted
    • “Felt a bit grainy/scratchy on the skin”
    • “Grittiness felt like a physical exfoliator”
    • “Slightly sharp powder feeling”
    • “Texture can be inconsistent bottle to bottle”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, boots.com, ulta.com, reddit.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm work for oily skin?

This cleansing balm works reasonably well for oily skin to remove makeup and clean pores, but it lacks targeted ingredients to control oily shine. It is safe and unlikely to cause irritation, though a product for oily skin needs oil-controlling ingredients and lighter textures instead of rich oils to keep pores clear.

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil and Avena Sativa Kernel Oil make this cleanser work for oily skin by dissolving makeup and cleansing pores. However, because it lacks oil-controlling ingredients, an oily skin type needs a cleanser with ingredients that balance excess shine and manage sebum.

What does Avena Sativa Kernel Oil do for oily skin?

Avena Sativa Kernel Oil may not be the best fit for oily skin because it has a higher ratio of oleic acid to linoleic acid, which can feel heavy. Oily skin generally does better with ingredients that are high in linoleic acid to help keep pores clear and balance the skin.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2018

What does Sweet Almond Oil do for oily skin?

Sweet Almond Oil is a weak fit for oily skin because it is heavy and may clog pores. Oily skin needs lightweight ingredients that help control oil production and keep pores clear.

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, or as part of your weekly evening routine to take off makeup. Oily skin needs a cleanser of this type to include ingredients that help clear excess oil and shine.

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine before your cleanser when using retinol, and it is unlikely to irritate your skin. Oily skin using this type of product alongside retinol also benefits from targeted oil-balancing ingredients like niacinamide or salicylic acid to help manage excess shine.

How often should I use this cleanser?

This makeup remover works well as part of your evening routine to melt away makeup, though oily skin does better with cleansers that also help control extra shine.

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause irritation on oily skin, but it may leave behind an oily residue that does not help with excess shine. Oily skin works best with a cleanser that includes lightweight or oil-absorbing ingredients to help clear away extra oil.

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol). Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
  • Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.

    Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021
  • Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Ingredients

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Peg-6 Caprylic Capric Glycerides, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil Oat Kernel Oil, Candelilla Cera Cire De Candelilla Cera, Silica, Sorbitan Stearate, Tribehenin, Peg-60 Almond Glycerides, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour Oat Kernel Flour, Water, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

How does it fit your skin?

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Buy online

Prices checked 10 Oct – 5 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Spain.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.