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SEPHORA COLLECTION Clean Skin Cleansing Balm with Postbiotics + Squalane
SEPHORA COLLECTION

SEPHORA COLLECTION Clean Skin Cleansing Balm with Postbiotics + Squalane

Efficacy100/100IrritancyMedium
See all ingredients

Works for

Cleansing
Cetearyl alcohol, Sorbeth-30 tetraoleate + 4 more
Cleanses gently
What the product description says
“A cleansing balm that gently melts away dirt and waterproof makeup, leaving skin comfortable, supple-looking, and hydrated.”
Source: Sephora CA

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (cetearyl alcohol, cetearyl glucoside, cocamidopropyl betaine, peg-20 glyceryl triisostearate, polyglyceryl-10 laurate, sorbeth-30 tetraoleate) and should be able to cleanse the skin gently. Still keep in mind that any cleansing can disrupt the skin barrier, and most people do not need to cleanse their skin more than once per day.

Even though this formulation is mild, the following cleansing agents could trigger an irritation or allergy for some people: cocamidopropyl betaine

Cetearyl alcoholEffect: HighA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture~3.1–4.6%
Sorbeth-30 tetraoleateEffect: HighHelps water and oil mix together~3.1–4.6%
Peg-20 glyceryl triisostearateEffect: HighHelps water and oil mix together~1.2–1.9%
Cocamidopropyl betaineEffect: HighHelps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergen~1.1–1.7%
Polyglyceryl-10 laurateEffect: HighHelps water and oil mix together~0.95–1.45%
Cetearyl glucosideEffect: HighHelps water and oil in the product mix well together and improves product texture~0.85–1.25%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
1 strong irritant: Parfum
Medium risk
We flagged 10 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Cocamidopropyl betaineHelps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergenHigh~1.1–1.7%est.
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.35–0.85%est.
Caprylic/capric triglycerideA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerinMedium~22–34%est.
Sorbeth-30 tetraoleateHelps water and oil mix togetherMedium~3.1–4.6%est.
Peg-20 glyceryl triisostearateHelps water and oil mix togetherMedium~1.2–1.9%est.
Polyglyceryl-10 laurateHelps water and oil mix togetherMedium~0.95–1.45%est.
Cetearyl glucosideHelps water and oil in the product mix well together and improves product textureMedium~0.85–1.25%est.
Simmondsia chinensis seed oilSoftens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.Medium~0.45–1%est.
Ascorbyl palmitateBeing a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable and can penetrate the skin better than L-Ascorbic acid. It is effective in protecting the skin from free radicals, as well as evening the skin tone, but is less effective in stimulating collagen production compared to L-Ascorbic acid.Medium~0.05–0.25%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~0.05–0.2%est.
Comedogenic
3 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
3 flagged
These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.
IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount
Butyrospermum parkii butterA great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals3/5~5.6–8.4%est.
Cetearyl alcoholA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture2/5~3.1–4.6%est.
Hydrogenated vegetable oilAn oil from a mixture of different vegetables. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin2/5~1.6–2.4%est.

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Caprylic/capric triglyceride~22–34%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin

More about Caprylic/capric triglyceride
Butyrospermum parkii butter~5.6–8.4%
Comedogenic 3/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
3/5
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-oxidationAnti-aging

A great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals

More about Butyrospermum parkii butter
Sorbeth-30 tetraoleate~3.1–4.6%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil mix together

More about Sorbeth-30 tetraoleate
Cetearyl alcohol~3.1–4.6%
Comedogenic 2/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
2/5
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture

More about Cetearyl alcohol
Squalane~2.8–4.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

An oil naturally present in skin. Works as an emollient to soften the skin and form a protective layer on its surface without a greasy feeling.

More about Squalane
Helianthus annuus seed cera~2–2.9%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin

More about Helianthus annuus seed cera
Hydrogenated vegetable oil~1.6–2.4%
Comedogenic 2/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
2/5
Works for
Moisturizing

An oil from a mixture of different vegetables. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin

More about Hydrogenated vegetable oil
Peg-20 glyceryl triisostearate~1.2–1.9%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil mix together

More about Peg-20 glyceryl triisostearate
Polyglyceryl-10 laurate~0.95–1.45%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil mix together

More about Polyglyceryl-10 laurate
Cetearyl glucoside~0.85–1.25%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil in the product mix well together and improves product texture

More about Cetearyl glucoside
Water~0.55–1.25%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Cocamidopropyl betaine~1.1–1.7%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil mix together. Used as a cleansing ingredient. Could be an allergen

More about Cocamidopropyl betaine
Parfum~0.35–0.85%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Simmondsia chinensis seed oil~0.45–1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Softens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.

More about Simmondsia chinensis seed oil
Tocopherol~0.3–0.7%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Anti-oxidationAnti-agingMoisturizingAnti-inflammatory

Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself

More about Tocopherol
Sodium chloride~0.15–0.65%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures

More about Sodium chloride
Avena sativa kernel oil~0.15–0.55%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

An effective moisturizing and skin barrier repair ingredient. Helps calm down inflammation and has some anti-oxidant properties

More about Avena sativa kernel oil
Bacillus ferment~0.1–0.45%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

A product of bacterial fermentation. Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Bacillus ferment
Ascorbyl palmitate~0.05–0.25%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Anti-oxidationAnti-aging

Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable and can penetrate the skin better than L-Ascorbic acid. It is effective in protecting the skin from free radicals, as well as evening the skin tone, but is less effective in stimulating collagen production compared to L-Ascorbic acid.

More about Ascorbyl palmitate
Helianthus annuus seed oil~0.15–0.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function

More about Helianthus annuus seed oil
Citric acid~0.05–0.2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH

More about Citric acid
Ingredient list view

Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Butyrospermum parkii butter, Sorbeth-30 tetraoleate, Cetearyl alcohol, Squalane, Helianthus annuus seed cera, Hydrogenated vegetable oil, Peg-20 glyceryl triisostearate, Polyglyceryl-10 laurate, Cetearyl glucoside, Water, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Parfum, Simmondsia chinensis seed oil, Tocopherol, Sodium chloride, Avena sativa kernel oil, Bacillus ferment, Ascorbyl palmitate, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Citric acid

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$18.00
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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
SEPHORA COLLECTIONClean Skin Cleansing Balm with Postbiotics + SqualaneYOUR PRODUCTIndeed LabsWatermelon Melting BalmBlue Lagoon Skin ScienceBL+ Cleansing BalmCliniqueTake The Day Off™ Charcoal Cleansing Balm
Match—34%33%33%
Price$18.00$8.37−$9.63$42.53+$24.53$32.12+$14.12
Shared key ingredients—4 of 144 of 143 of 14
Key difference—Polyglycerin-3Algae ExtractCarthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Irritancy Medium Low Low Low
Drying alcohol————
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 8 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Safety Evaluation of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Compounds for Cosmetic Usencbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. 2
    In Vitro Assessment of Skin Irritation Potential of Surfactant-based Formulations by Using a 3-D Skin Reconstructed Tissue Model and Cytokine Responseresearchgate.net
  3. 3
    Vitamin E in dermatologyncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. 4
    Vitamin E and Skin Healthlpi.oregonstate.edu
  5. 5
    Effect of Olive and Sunflower Seed Oil on the Adult Skin Barrier: Implications for Neonatal Skin Careonlinelibrary.wiley.com
  6. 6
    Topically Applied Sunflower Seed Oil Prevents Invasive Bacterial Infections in Preterm Infants in Egyptjournals.lww.com
SEPHORA COLLECTION Clean Skin Cleansing Balm with Postbiotics + Squalane
SEPHORA COLLECTIONClean Skin Cleansing Balm with Postbiotics + Squalane
Buy at Sephora$18.00Amazon

Affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.

Buy at Sephora$18.00Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.