The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser for dry skin
Squalane
Glycerin
Coco-Caprylate Caprate
Ethyl Macadamiate
Hydrogenated Hydrolysate Starch
High
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for dry skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Highly suitable for your dry skin due to the presence of squalane and glycerin, which provide emollient and humectant benefits respectively, supporting skin hydration and barrier function.
- The formula offers excellent cleansing by effectively removing impurities without causing irritation, making it a good choice for your dry or flaky skin.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin clean. Start using it daily right away since your skin is not sensitive.
- Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow with your toner and moisturizer afterwards.
- Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your face using soft circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.
- Apply this cleanser on slightly damp skin for a comfortable and refreshing wash. This helps maintain your skin's natural moisture while cleansing away dirt.
- Avoid getting the cleanser directly into your eyes to prevent any irritation. Do a simple patch test before your first use to ensure your skin likes it.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 15.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this balm-to-oil cleanser is highly recommended for dry and sensitive skin types, effectively cleansing without stripping moisture. Users frequently report soft, hydrated skin. However, it is noted to struggle with removing waterproof makeup on its own and requires a specific warming technique for optimal results.
Highlights
Gentle and hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all.”
- “Perfect for my dry, sensitive skin; never feels stripped.”
- “Hydrating and doesn't leave that squeaky clean feeling.”
Good for sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “Finally a cleanser that doesn't sting my face.”
- “Safe for my reactive, acne-prone skin.”
Struggles with makeup Often Mentioned
- “Struggles to get my waterproof mascara off completely.”
- “Leaves raccoon eyes unless I use a separate remover.”
- “Need to double cleanse to get all foundation off.”
Affordable price Sometimes Noted
- “Can't beat the price for the quality.”
- “Great value compared to high-end cleansing balms.”
- “An effective budget-friendly option.”
Unique texture Sometimes Noted
- “Love how it melts from a balm into an oil.”
- “Feels luxurious and smooth to massage in.”
- “The texture change tells you when it's ready to rinse.”
Small tube size Sometimes Noted
- “The 50ml tube runs out way too fast.”
- “Wish it came in a huge pump bottle.”
- “Not cost-effective because you have to use a lot.”
Tedious application Sometimes Noted
- “Annoying that you have to rub it in hands for 10-20 seconds first.”
- “If you don't warm it up enough, it drags on the skin.”
- “Takes too much effort for a quick morning wash.”
Leaves residue Rarely Noted
- “Left a slight oily film on my skin.”
- “Didn't feel clean enough for my oily T-zone.”
- “Caused some congestion because it didn't rinse clean.”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, reddit.com, theordinary.com, makeupalley.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser a great fit for dry skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for your dry skin because it contains squalane and glycerin, which help keep your skin soft and hydrated. It also removes impurities effectively without causing irritation, making it gentle on flaky skin.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry skin?
Squalane and glycerin make this cleanser a great fit because they help keep dry skin soft and hydrated while you wash. They support your skin barrier and clean away dirt without causing irritation.
What does Squalane do for dry skin?
Squalane helps keep dry skin soft and smooth by acting as a hydrating agent that locks in moisture and prevents water loss. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may protect the skin from damage while improving overall hydration.
Advances in Food and Nutrition Research, 2012Molecules, 2009
What does Glycerin do for dry skin?
Glycerin helps dry skin by drawing in moisture and keeping it locked in, which makes the skin feel much softer and smoother. It also supports your natural skin barrier to stop water from escaping easily. A product for dry skin needs extra ingredients like hyaluronic acid and soothing plant extracts to truly calm and hydrate dry patches.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cleanser fits into both your morning and evening routines as the first step before your hydrating toner and moisturizer. Using a gentle cleanser like this helps remove impurities without stripping dry skin, supporting hydration and barrier function.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first to gently wash your face, followed by your retinol treatment. This cleanser is a great fit for dry skin because squalane and glycerin help keep your skin hydrated and support your skin barrier without causing irritation.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It gently washes away impurities while helping to keep your dry skin soft and hydrated without causing irritation.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry skin. Its formula avoids harsh ingredients and features squalane and glycerin to gently clean away impurities while keeping your skin calm and hydrated.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body and around the eyes because its gentle formula removes impurities without irritation. It is unlikely to cause any trouble on thin or dry areas since it includes soothing ingredients and avoids harsh components.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Liquid coco-caprylate/caprate combined with electrogenic Staphylococcus epidermidis significantly reduced UV-B-induced skin injuries in mice compared to poorly electrogenic isolates.
Scientific Reports, 2020
Ingredients
Squalane, Water, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Glycerin, Sucrose Stearate, Ethyl Macadamiate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Sucrose Laurate, Hydrogenated Hydrolysate Starch, Sucrose Dilaurate, Sucrose Trilaurate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Isoceteth-20, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tocopherol, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Malic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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