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Yves Saint Laurent Top Secrets Balm-In-Oil
Yves Saint Laurent

Yves Saint Laurent Top Secrets Balm-In-Oil

Efficacy100/100IrritancyMedium
See all ingredients

Works for

Cleansing
Peg-20 glyceryl triisostearate, Polysorbate 20
Cleanses gently
What the product description says
“Achieve fresh, clean-feeling skin with the Yves Saint Laurent Top Secrets Balm-In-Oil , a sensorial makeup remover that cleanses away product and impurities while nourishing the complexion.”
Source: Lookfantastic

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (peg-20 glyceryl triisostearate, polysorbate 20) 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.

Peg-20 glyceryl triisostearateEffect: HighHelps water and oil mix together~4.6–6.9%
Polysorbate 20Effect: HighHelps oil and water mix together~0.85–1.25%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
1 strong irritant: Parfum
Medium risk
We flagged 8 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Zinc sulfateA preservative. It can be irritatingHigh~0.2–0.8%est.
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.05–0.25%est.
Peg-20 glyceryl triisostearateHelps water and oil mix togetherMedium~4.6–6.9%est.
Olea europaea fruit oilAn emollient that helps soften the skin but is not effective for restoring its barrier function. Might be helpful to calm down inflammationMedium~3.8–5.7%est.
Caprylyl glycolHelps preserve products and creates a nice product textureMedium~1.5–2.3%est.
Benzyl glycolHelps dissolve other ingredients and preserve productsMedium~0.45–1.05%est.
Pyridoxine hclMight help neutralize free radicals in skinMedium~0.1–0.4%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~0.05–0.25%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
Ethylhexyl palmitateAn emollient that helps soften the skin and create a nice product texture3/5~22–33%est.
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 radicals3/5~3.3–5%est.
Laminaria saccharina extractA seaweed extract that contains sugars and can be helpful in attracting water to the upper layers of the skin if used in high enough concentrations3/5~0.35–0.8%est.

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Ethylhexyl palmitate~22–33%
Comedogenic 3/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
3/5
Works for
Moisturizing

An emollient that helps soften the skin and create a nice product texture

More about Ethylhexyl palmitate
Peg-20 glyceryl triisostearate~4.6–6.9%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil mix together

More about Peg-20 glyceryl triisostearate
Synthetic wax~4.6–6.9%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Used to stabilize product formulations and thicken product consistency

More about Synthetic wax
Olea europaea fruit oil~3.8–5.7%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

An emollient that helps soften the skin but is not effective for restoring its barrier function. Might be helpful to calm down inflammation

More about Olea europaea fruit oil
Butyrospermum parkii butter~3.3–5%
Comedogenic 3/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
3/5
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-agingAnti-oxidation

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
Phenoxyethanol~0.5–1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Tocopherol~1.6–2.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Anti-oxidationMoisturizingAnti-agingAnti-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
Caprylyl glycol~1.5–2.3%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture

More about Caprylyl glycol
Water~1–1.6%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Polysorbate 20~0.85–1.25%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Polysorbate 20
Butylene glycol~0.5–1.2%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Butylene glycol
Benzyl glycol~0.45–1.05%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Helps dissolve other ingredients and preserve products

More about Benzyl glycol
Laminaria saccharina extract~0.35–0.8%
Comedogenic 3/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
3/5
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-aging

A seaweed extract that contains sugars and can be helpful in attracting water to the upper layers of the skin if used in high enough concentrations

More about Laminaria saccharina extract
Zinc sulfate~0.2–0.8%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A preservative. It can be irritating

More about Zinc sulfate
Vitreoscilla ferment~0.15–0.6%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
More about Vitreoscilla ferment
Pyridoxine hcl~0.1–0.4%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Anti-oxidation

Might help neutralize free radicals in skin

More about Pyridoxine hcl
Citric acid~0.05–0.25%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

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

More about Citric acid
Parfum~0.05–0.25%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Ingredient list view

Ethylhexyl palmitate, Peg-20 glyceryl triisostearate, Synthetic wax, Olea europaea fruit oil, Butyrospermum parkii butter, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Caprylyl glycol, Water, Polysorbate 20, Butylene glycol, Benzyl glycol, Laminaria saccharina extract, Zinc sulfate, Vitreoscilla ferment, Pyridoxine hcl, Citric acid, Parfum

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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
Yves Saint LaurentTop Secrets Balm-In-OilYOUR PRODUCTCeraVeMakeup Removing Cleanser BalmGeek GorgeousMini Mighty Melt MiniB SkincareB Melting Cleansing Balm
Match—38%36%32%
Price—$11.68$8.94$9.28
Shared key ingredients—2 of 51 of 52 of 5
Key difference—Ceramide NpOleyl ErucateCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Irritancy Medium Low Low Medium
Drying alcohol————
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Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 7 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Safety Evaluation of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Compounds for Cosmetic Usencbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. 2
    Use of “natural” oils for moisturization: Review of olive, coconut, and sunflower seed oilonlinelibrary.wiley.com
  3. 3
    Vitamin E in dermatologyncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. 4
    Vitamin E and Skin Healthlpi.oregonstate.edu
  5. 5
    Safety Assessment of Brown Algae-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmeticscir-safety.org
  6. 6
    The effect of laminaria saccharina extract on suppressing pigmentation in in-vitro systemjaad.org
Yves Saint Laurent Top Secrets Balm-In-Oil
Yves Saint LaurentTop Secrets Balm-In-Oil
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As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.