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I admit I was really excited when I got my hands on my first bottle of The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser. It had been out for some time already when I tried it (the video below is from April 2023, which gives you an idea of how much of a backlog I have with posting on here) and by then I had read a lot of raving reviews from people I trust. Of course I know the deal with different expectations, different skin types, no two people are the same and so on and so forth, but still.

The praise was high: „The only cleanser I take with me on holiday!“ said one. „Leaves my skin soft and clean without any rubbing“ was someone else’s verdict. „Feels like a spa treatment each night!“ said the third. So that is what I expected: a cleanser that removes my makeup, doesn’t strip my skin and won’t leave a film – while feeling much more luxurious than the price tag would suggest.

Too much to ask? Let’s see.

What The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser claims

Squalane Cleanser effectively cleanses the skin by removing makeup, dirt, and impurities while supporting the skin’s moisture barrier through hydration.

Facts about The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser

Prize and size

There are three different sizes available, either 50 ml for 10,90 € (for traveling I assume), 150 ml for 22,60 € (the regular size) and then 240 ml for 30,10 € (probably a testiment to how many people adore it). All are available on the website here. The cleanser is vegan and has a pH of 5,5 – 6,5.

Texture and smell

Squalane for me is equivalent to oily, so that is what I expected: something yellowish and slightly oily. It looks and feels more like a cream cleanser though. Like all products from The Ordinary this cleanser is fragrance-free, but that doesn’t mean it has no scent. Quite on the contrary, I do get a faint note of something reminding me of plastic. Not overpowering, but as it is a cleanser still noticeable.

How to use The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser

According to the website it should be warmed up in the hands until it turns into an oil, but while it gets smoother, it never really feels like an oils to me. Maybe like an oily cream? While I am usually fond of balm and oil cleansers, I find the texture here to be a little weird. In terms of performance I wasn’t completely convinced either – it does get rid of light makeup, but not with my regular long-wearing liner or with waterproof mascara. A benefit is that it rinses clean and leaves no film, it just makes your contacts go foggy – shoutout to my fellow shortsighted people out there.

After rinsing, my face doesn’t feel stripped, but not overly hydrated either – again I expected something more.

Ingredients of The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser

Squalane sii|emo 0 1, Aqua (Water) solv, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate emo, Glycerin sii|h 0 0, Sucrose Stearate emo|emu|surf 0 0, Ethyl Macadamiate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride emo, Sucrose Laurate emo|emu|surf, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate h, Sucrose Dilaurate emo|emu|surf, Sucrose Trilaurate emu|surf, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 vc, Isoceteth-20 emu|surf, Sodium Polyacrylate vc, Tocopherol aox 0–3 0–3, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone aox|so, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate chel, Malic Acid exf|buff, Ethylhexylglycerin pres, Chlorphenesin pres|amic

Hover the mouse over an ingredient for short explanation. Read more on INCIDecoder.
Apart from emollients and emulsifiers you’ll find the name-giving Squalane, an oil naturally occurring in our sebum and Glycerin, a humectant. There is also Malic Acid, an AHA derived from apples that – I assume – is not used as exfoliant here. My assumption is based on the fact that it comes way down the ingredient list, so is probably in a too low concentration to have an exfoliating effect, and that the cleanser is not marketed as exfoliating cleanser. (More info: The benefits of exfoliating acids in skincare explained)

It also contains Tocopherol or Vitamin E, which has some skin benefits, but is often used to stabilize the formula.

More info: How to read the ingredient list in your skincare products

Does it live up to its claims?

Mostly.

It cleanses the skin by removing dirt and makeup, I just wouldn’t say it does that with high efficiency. It does respect the skin barrier though in the way that it isn’t stripping.

How does it compare to…

Geek and Gorgeous Mighty Melt Cleansing Balm

Yes, I am aware that this is a balm cleanser in a pot, but I wanted to compare it to another drugstore option. The Mighty Melt Cleanser from Geek and Gorgeous is my favorite balm cleanser out there, gets rid of my makeup, leaves the skin feeling nice and hydrated and can be used both as morning and as evening cleanser as it rinses clean. It is basically everything I had hoped the Squalane Cleanser would be, and it comes at a comparable price point.

You can read my full review of the Geek and Gorgeous Mighty Melt Cleansing Balm here.

The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm

I admit I expected The Ordinary’s Squalane Cleanser to look like the Oat Cleansing Balm looks like: yellowish and like a hardened oil. Looks aside, I prefer the texture of the version from The Inkey List, which really turns into an oily oil. Be warned though, it has some graininess to it that some people dislike. As they aren’t harsh, I don’t mind it. On the contrary, I like the extra grip. This one is much better at removing makeup as well, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise when I tell you that out of the two, I would prefer the Oat Cleansing Balm.

You can read my full review of The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm here.

Would I repurchase and which skin types do I recommend it to?

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser is one that I will use up over time, but probably not repurchase. Don’t get me wrong, it is absolutely fine, but with the huge amount of cleansers to chose from, fine doesn’t lead to me picking it up again. Personally I’d assume it is best suited to those with skin that is normal to dry rather than oily and that wear a rather light layer of makeup, if they were any at all. This is an educated guess though as I am none of the above – if you happen to know and love this cleanser, do tell use your skin type and why you love it below.

Shop The Ordinary skincare here

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