I’m always on the hunt for a gentle face cleanser that still, you know, actually cleanses my face. This face wash with hyaluronic acid isn’t – quiiiiiite there. Why? Read on in my Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser review!
Brand description
“Two people from Boots launched a ‘premium skincare line without premium prices’ (Get the Gloss), with a simple approach concentrating on one hero ingredient per product in 2018. The name plays on that: we’ve all perused the eponymous ‘inci list’ at the back of products. The Inkey List (TIL) plasters the hero ingredient on the label, thus styling themselves as ‘the beauty translator’, ‘breaking through the jargon’. Products are relatively cheap and the black-and-white plastic bottles instagrammable. The brand is already easily available nearly everywhere in the world.”
My review of TIL’s Hyaluronic Acid and Q10 Serums
I’ve to admit that of all budget skincare brands, TIL is maybe my least favourite. With the exception of one (and that one is kinda HG: and that’s the Hyaluronic Acid Serum) every product has disappointed me in some way, and their new launches aren’t really exciting to me.
Here’re my reviews over the years:
- Oat Cleansing Balm
- Kaolin Mask
- Hyaluronic Acid and Q10 serums
- Hair: Hyaluronic Acid and Chia Seed Curl Treatments and hair product update
Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser review: What is it?
Dermatologically tested deeply hydrating cleanser for soft, smooth and healthy skin.
The Inkey List
The lightly foaming formula of Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser removes makeup & SPF and continues to hydrate skin for up to 48 hours post use.
Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser contains a unique formula of 1% Hyaluronic Acid complex and 1% Inulin compound that immediately and deeply hydrates the skin, supports a healthy skin barrier and optimizes skin PH levels.
Ingredients
Water (Aqua / Eau), Glycerin, Coco-Glucoside, Betaine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Inulin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Dehydroacetic Acid, Polyquaternium-10, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin
The Inkey List
What makes this a gentle cleansing option is actually not the different forms of Hyaluronic acid, but the hydrating glycerin and a gentle surfactant (coco-glucoside).
Formula
The first question I have when reading this is: does it make sense to have hyaluronic acid in a wash-off product?
Let’s have a look at the ingredient list and TIL’s notes: They mention a “1% Hyaluronic Acid Complex (CationHA)” they use in the cleanser. The manufacturer’s data sheet for cationHA™-Clear 1 explains that this is a combination between Polyquaternium-10 (a polymer usually used in haircare. I explain a bit about that in the TIL haircare post here) and Sodium Hyaluronate, designed for a better adherence to scalp and hair. It uses the salt of Hyaluronic Acid to minimize potential inflammation from surfactants.
So far as I understand it, the idea of this complex comes from haircare products where it makes a lot of sense if you use it – especially in conditioners, where a polymer coating the hair then will both protect and strengthen.
This cleanser will use similar tactics in “binding” Hyaluronic Acid to your skin.
Usage
This is a milky, slightly foaming gel cleanser that TIL claims is good for your AM and PM cleanse, is supposedly good for sunscreen and makeup removal and can be used as a second step in a double cleanse. It has a pH level of 5.0. I use a blob on damp skin and massage that in approximately 30 seconds (which I do with all my cleansers).
Effect
The claim is here that the Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser “maintains skins hydration levels” and reduce transepidermal water loss. I used my little skin analyser and what do you know: it absolutely does maintain hydration levels! My median hydration levels a few minutes after I used the Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser are even higher than before. Thumbs up!
I still use a dedicated cleanser for my eye makeup, because I’m not going in with surfactants on my eyes. And guess what, that’s an excellent idea, because the Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser doesn’t have a chance when up against mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadow, the works. It cleanses off cream blush and lipstick tolerably well, but has to admit defeat against concealer. So, again, this wouldn’t be my cleanser of choice when removing a full face of makeup. It wouldn’t even be my choice as a second cleanse step. As a morning cleanse, or on days when I don’t wear makeup? Why not.
What I don’t like: although my skin doesn’t feel stripped at all, there’s a slight film on my skin post-cleanse that I don’t love.
Comparison
I reviewed TIL’s Oat Cleansing Balm last year, and it failed every test abysmally: it didn’t, you know, cleanse. At all. I don’t doubt that’s why TIL promotes the Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser as a second step after using the Oat Cleansing Balm. The thing is: I usually just use a cleansing oil that actually removes my makeup and sunscreen in ONE step. Why use two, then? This one suffers from a similar affliction: the cleansing power isn’t great. I don’t see why I should spring for two products just to achieve decently clean skin, TIL!
If you like a gentle, foaming face wash for non-makeup days, why not. The other foaming cleanser I liked lately was Heimish’s All Clean Green Foam, which yields a similar skin-feel after using it. Maybe the nicest face wash I’ve ever tried is PSA’s Reset cleanser, another milky creamy gel cleanser, which also gives me a wonderful hydrated, silky skin-feel after cleansing.
Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser review: Worth it?
I’m not the biggest fan of foaming cleansers. I remove my eye makeup with a cleansing balm and everything else with an oil cleanser, and that works well for me. Still, I usually have a foaming cleanser in the shower for my post-gym needs (etc.). For a simple cleanse in the shower, this is fine. (It’s also not better than my 3€ drugstore cleanser.)
€10,99 for 150ml at TIL’s site.
Please note that this post is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods or money for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.
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