The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane for mature skin
Squalane
Average
- SuperiorNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for mature skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with mature skin: fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. 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 hydration for your normal skin, as squalane provides emollient benefits and supports barrier resilience, which can help with fine lines and wrinkles.
- This formula is generally safe for your normal skin, with squalane being a non-irritating ingredient that enhances skin hydration.
- The product is safe for your normal skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like squalane.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help smooth fine lines.
- Apply this product after your toner and serum, but before your SPF in the morning. Follow your cleanser and toner steps to keep your skin balanced.
- Gently press a small amount into your face and neck. Avoid rubbing the skin too harshly to prevent extra tension.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. Clean skin helps the product absorb much more evenly.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a quick patch test before your very first use to stay safe.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 2.3k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently praise this product as a lightweight, non-comedogenic oil that effectively hydrates dry and sensitive skin without clogging pores. While the vast majority find it versatile for both face and hair, a small minority of users with specific skin sensitivities experienced breakouts or found the texture too greasy for daytime use.
Highlights
Excellent value Often Mentioned
- “unbeatable price point”
- “bottle lasts forever”
- “cheap but effective”
- “better than expensive oils”
Lightweight hydration Often Mentioned
- “sinks in immediately”
- “doesn't feel heavy”
- “perfect non-greasy moisture”
- “leaves a healthy glow”
Soothes sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “stopped retinol irritation”
- “no stinging or redness”
Versatile multi-use Sometimes Noted
- “tames hair frizz”
- “mixes well with moisturizer”
- “great cuticle oil”
- “use on dry elbows”
Greasy residue Sometimes Noted
- “sat on top of skin”
- “too oily for day”
- “made me look shiny”
- “didn't absorb well”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “gave me cystic acne”
- “clogged my pores”
- “caused tiny whiteheads”
- “skin texture got bumpy”
Insufficient moisture Rarely Noted
- “still had dry patches”
- “felt too thin”
- “needed a cream on top”
- “disappeared too fast”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “dropper cap broke”
- “bottle leaks easily”
- “hard to close tightly”
- “messy to travel with”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.com, spacenk.com, target.com, makeupalley.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does The Ordinary Squalane work for mature skin?
This moisturizer works reasonably well for mature skin, offering moderate hydration and supporting barrier resilience to help smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. Squalane is safe and non-irritating, though mature skin also benefits from richer blends with peptides, antioxidants, and humectants to keep moisture balanced and deeply nourished.
Which ingredients make this moisturizer a good fit for mature skin?
Squalane makes this moisturizer a fit for mature skin by providing moderate hydration and supporting barrier resilience to help with fine lines and wrinkles. Because this product offers an average fit, a moisturizer for mature skin needs a rich blend of emollients, humectants, peptides, and antioxidants to deeply nourish and maintain moisture balance.
What does Squalane do for mature skin?
Squalane helps keep mature skin feeling soft and smooth by boosting moisture and protecting the skin barrier. It also provides antioxidant support that helps improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles over time.
Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2025Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2010
Where does this moisturizer go in a skincare routine for mature skin?
This moisturizer goes after your hydrating toner in the morning, and after your treatment in the evening. It provides moderate hydration and helps support skin barrier resilience to address fine lines and wrinkles. However, mature skin needs a moisturizer that offers deeper nourishment and stronger anti-aging support with ingredients like peptides and powerful antioxidants.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizer with retinol by applying the retinol first, letting it sink in, and then applying this product on top to help keep your skin comfortable and soft. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer alongside retinol helps reduce dryness and irritation while supporting your skin.
How often should I use this moisturizer?
You can use this moisturizer daily in your morning and evening routines. It helps keep your skin soft and hydrated while supporting your skin barrier against fine lines and wrinkles.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?
This product is unlikely to cause breakouts for mature skin, though some users may occasionally experience a greasy residue. To better support mature skin, this type of product needs extra ingredients that provide deeper moisture and firming benefits.
Can I use this moisturizer around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizer around the eyes and on your body, as squalane is gentle and safe for thinner areas of skin. Because mature skin needs richer hydration and ingredients that strongly target fine lines, products for this skin type work best when they combine squalane with heavier nourishing agents or specialized anti-aging actives.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Scientific Reports, 2020
What the research says
Topical application of a vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate significantly increased epidermal thickness, type III collagen production, and glycosaminoglycans production in human skin explants compared to free vitamin C and vitamin C-palmitate.
Scientific Reports, 2020Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Application of squalene/phosphotungstate calcium nanowires (Sql/PWC) oleogel on UVB-irradiated skin decreased epidermal thickness, increased dermal thickness, and promoted the expression of elastin, collagen, and skin barrier markers through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.
Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 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, 2025
Ingredients
Squalane
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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