🇦🇺Australia

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser for acne-prone skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser
  • Squalane
  • Glycerin
  • Coco-Caprylate Caprate
  • Ethyl Macadamiate
  • Hydrogenated Hydrolysate Starch

Low

  • AverageCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A weak match for acne-prone skin; the cleansers alongside fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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

  • Offers moderate suitability for your combination skin, as squalane and glycerin provide emollient and humectant actions respectively, which cleanse pores but are not specialized for addressing your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • The cleansing action is excellent due to the concentrations of squalane and glycerin, though these ingredients may not fully address the needs of your oily zones.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your combination skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it.
  • This cleanser is the first step in your morning routine and the second step after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Always follow up with a toner and moisturizer .
  • Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face in circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
  • Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it work effectively against breakouts. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water .
  • Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.

People Say

★4.5Overall rating based on 15.0k+ reviews

Based 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

Why is The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser a weak match for acne-prone skin?

This cleanser offers moderate suitability for acne-prone skin because while its ingredients help clean pores, they are not specialized for addressing acne, blemishes, and breakouts, and may not fully address the needs of oily zones. Cleansers of this type need a gentle yet powerful formulation of soothing ingredients to effectively address acne and breakouts, along with a balanced mix of hydrating and soothing agents like aloe and glycerin to maintain skin balance.

Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for acne-prone skin?

This cleanser is a weak match for acne-prone skin because squalane and glycerin clean pores well but do not target breakouts. A cleanser of this type needs soothing ingredients, gentle cleansing agents, and aloe to calm breakouts and keep acne-prone skin balanced.

What does Squalane do for acne-prone skin?

Squalane may help keep acne-prone skin soft and smooth, but peroxidated forms can trigger inflammation in skin cells. For a better fit on acne-prone skin, products need non-clogging, soothing ingredients that balance oil without causing irritation.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2006

What does Glycerin do for acne-prone skin?

Glycerin helps keep acne-prone skin hydrated and calm without clogging pores or feeling heavy. It supports the skin barrier so it stays soft and smooth while handling everyday treatments.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?

This cleanser is used in the morning and evening as part of a daily routine for acne-prone skin. Because it is a weak match that does not specialize in breakouts, this skin needs a cleanser that also includes ingredients to target blemishes and clear pores.

Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying the cleanser first on damp skin and rinsing it off completely before applying your retinol treatment. This cleanser is a weak match for acne-prone skin, so acne-prone skin needs a cleanser that also targets breakouts and blemishes with specialized active ingredients.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. This product is a weak match for your acne-prone skin, so a cleanser for this skin needs ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to target breakouts and clear pores.

Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?

This cleanser is a weak match for acne-prone skin because while squalane and glycerin help clean pores, they are not specialized for addressing breakouts and blemishes. A cleanser for this skin needs ingredients that deeply target oil and clear pores to help prevent acne.

Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?

This cleanser is safe to use around the eyes and on the body because its gentle formula has no harsh or irritating ingredients.

Is it 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, 2017

  • Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.

    Molecules, 2025

  • Plant-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, 2025

  • The 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, 2020

  • Ten 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, 2001

  • Niacinamide/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, 2012

  • Liquid 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

Why other cleansers fit acne-prone skin better

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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Prices checked 3 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Australia.

How does it fit your skin?

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