Skin science article
Bliss Makeup Melt Cleanser Versus The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm
Bliss Makeup Melt Cleanser Versus The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm This mild gel makeup remover is made to dissolve makeup, sunscreen, and daily buildup. This oil-based makeup remover is made to dissolve makeup, sunscreen, and daily buildup. What's inside Key
Bliss Makeup Melt Cleanser Versus The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm
This mild gel makeup remover is made to dissolve makeup, sunscreen, and daily buildup.
This oil-based makeup remover is made to dissolve makeup, sunscreen, and daily buildup.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Glycerin
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Panthenol
Tocopherol
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Glycine Soja Oil
Allantoin
Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids
Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
Xylitylglucoside
Anhydroxylitol
Xylitol
Propanediol
Acacia Senegal Gum
Xanthan Gum
Shea Butteramidopropyl Betaine
Sodium Phytate
Hexylene Glycol
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Sorbitan Isostearate
Polysorbate 60
Isohexadecane
Tetrasodium EDTA
Phenoxyethanol
Ethylhexylglycerin
Benzoic Acid
Sodium Citrate
Citric Acid
Linalool
Water, Glycerin, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Allantoin, Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Shea Butter Ethyl Esters, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Propanediol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Shea Butteramidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Phytate, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Isohexadecane, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Linalool
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Cetearyl Alcohol
PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
Avena Sativa Kernel Oil
Candelilla Cera
Silica
Sorbitan Stearate
Tribehenin
PEG-60 Almond Glycerides
Avena Sativa Kernel Flour
Benzyl Alcohol
Lecithin
1,2-Hexanediol
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Biosaccharide Gum-4
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Candelilla Cera, Silica, Sorbitan Stearate, Tribehenin, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Water, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Lecithin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Biosaccharide Gum-4, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
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Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil is a plant oil derived from the seeds of a sunflower.
It is rich in fatty acids, primarily linoleic acid and oleic acid. This gives it emollient and skin conditioning properties.
The reason this ingredient is so effective is because it forms a thin film on the skin that reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) while supplying linoleic acid to the stratum corneum to improve barrier strength.
The high linoleic acid content is particularly noteworthy for acne-prone skin.
Research suggests that acne-prone skin tends to be deficient in linoleic acid in sebum. Topical application may help replenish this to support a healthier follicular environment and less comedone-promoting sebum.
One randomized study found sunflower seed oil preserved skin barrier integrity in adult volunteers with and without atopic dermatitis (outperforming olive oil).
This ingredient is well-studied, gentle, and an effective emollient suitable for most skin types.
On fungal acne: This ingredient may not be Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) safe. This is because it contains fatty acids with carbon chain lengths in the C11-C24 range.
Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).
It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.
On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.
Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).
You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.
Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.
Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.
Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.
Tocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!