Hello to my fellow skincare lovers! As someone who has tried just about every product The Ordinary has to offer, I knew I had to review their much-raved Squalane cleanser. I have used it for a few months, even finished my tube and I believe this product is definitely worth talking about.
In this blog post, I’ll be giving you a detailed breakdown of everything you need to know about The Ordinary’s Squalane Cleanser. From the texture and packaging to the ingredients and how to use it, I’ll be covering it all.
And of course, I’ll be answering the question on your mind – is it really worth the hype? So grab a cup of tea, get cozy, and let’s dive into the world of The Ordinary’s Squalane Cleanser together!
Product Description
The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser is an soap-free, emollient cleanser that works as a gentle and effective first cleanser to remove makeup and impurities from the skin.
pH 5.5-6.5, alcohol-free, oil-free, silicone-free, nut-free, vegan, gluten-free, cruelty-free
Price: $9 for 50ml / $19.90 for 150ml. Buy it from Ulta or their website.
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Ingredients
Squalane is the main ingredient in this cleanser. It works as an emollient that makes the skin soft and supple. And it also helps with strengthening the skin barrier.
Malic Acid is also present in this cleanser at a very low strength, which is a very gentle fruit-based exfoliating acid that’s particularly great for sensitive skin.
Squalane, Aqua (Water), Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Sucrose Stearate, Ethyl Macadamiate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Sucrose Laurate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Isoceteth-20, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tocopherol, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Malic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin.
Packaging
The cleanser comes in a classic grey tube packaging that’s easy to use and travel with. Unlike many cleansing balms that come in jar/tub packaging, the tube packaging for a cleanser is slightly more convenient to use as it’s hygienic and mess-free.
I don’t hate jar packagings but if I had to choose one, tubes and pumps win for me. 😉
Texture
The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser has a rich creamy texture that’s different from the slippery, oily texture of most cleansing balms. It’s a cream-to-clear oil cleanser that’s gentle on the skin.
You need a few extra seconds to melt the cream between your palms. Once that’s done it’s easy to spread and massage on the skin to break down makeup and impurities.
How to use the ordinary squalane cleanser?
I use The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser as a first cleanser in my double cleansing routine and then follow up with a gel or foam based cleanser. This combination works the best for my acne-prone, oily skin.
If you have dry skin with no acne or pore clogging issue, you can skip the second cleansing step on regular days as this cleanser gives a moisturising feel to the skin upon rinsing.
- Take a dime-sized amount and rub between palms for a few seconds
- Then massage it all over the face to breakdown makeup, waterproof sunscreen, impurities, etc
- Once everything’s melted, take some water and massage again
- You’ll notice slightly milky texture (this cleanser doesn’t emulsify a lot)
- Wash off with water or a wash cloth
Is The Ordinary squalane cleanser Worth the hype?
Yes and No!
The Squalane cleanser completely takes off a full face of makeup and all sorts of impurities leaving no residual makeup or dirt behind. It didn’t irritate my sensitive skin, nor did it break me out – I have emptied the whole tube.
However, there’s a big problem: IT GIVES ME TEARY EYES!
On days I don’t do eye makeup, it works absolutely fine. But those days are rare. When I use this cleanser to go around my eyes to melt all the makeup, it leaves me with teary-eyes and blurry vision.
Everything goes away once I rinse it off but I have discovered cleansing oils that don’t cause this problem and they are also affordable – Kose Softymo Cleansing Oil (Japanese brand) and SKIN1004 Centella Cleansing Oil (Korean brand). But they’re mostly available online.
The eye-stinging is very subjective and if you use a separate eye makeup remover or don’t wear eye makeup on a daily basis, you would not have any issue with this cleanser.
Conclusion
Overall, The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser is a good cleanser that does its job well. Its creamy texture, nourishing ingredients, and convenient packaging make it stand out.
If you’re looking for an affordable, no nonsense cleanser that dissolves makeup and impurities and leaves your skin soft and supple, then The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser is worth considering.
However, it can irritate eyes if you use this cleanser to remove your eye makeup.
Pros
- Perfect job of cleansing: The cleanser does an excellent job of removing even waterproof makeup and impurities from the skin. It leaves the skin feeling clean and moisturized.
- Doesn’t break me out: The cleanser is gentle on the skin and didn’t cause irritation or breakouts.
- Rich creamy texture
- Leaves a light moisturizing feel: Makes it perfect as a stand alone cleanser for dry skin. The rest can follow up with a normal face wash.
- Convenient packaging: The tube packaging is more convenient to use than jar/tub packaging. It’s hygienic and mess-free.
- Contains Squalane: The cleanser has nourishing ingredients like Squalane, which is great for the skin.
Cons
- Takes time to melt completely: Don’t start massaging it directly on the face, give a few seconds to melt it first.
- Can irritate eyes: This is subjective but it irritates my eyes when I try to remove eye makeup.
Review of some products from The Ordinary:
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution Review
The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% Review
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