The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser for combination skin
Squalane
Glycerin
Coco-Caprylate Caprate
Ethyl Macadamiate
Hydrogenated Hydrolysate Starch
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- Low RiskSafety
Works for combination skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 cleansing for your combination skin, as squalane and glycerin provide hydration and gentle cleansing without exacerbating oiliness.
- While it offers general skincare benefits, it lacks targeted ingredients to address your specific concern of oily shine.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser AM and PM as part of your daily routine. Start 3×/week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening.
- Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your skin using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
- For the best results , apply the cleanser directly onto slightly damp skin to help lift away excess oil.
- 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+ 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
How well does The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser work for combination skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for your combination skin, using squalane and glycerin to hydrate and cleanse gently without making you too oily. However, it lacks targeted ingredients to help manage oily shine, so a cleanser for combination skin needs ingredients that effectively cleanse without stripping moisture, manage oily shine, and support the moisture barrier with beneficial extracts or oils.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Squalane and glycerin make this cleanser a fit for your combination skin by providing hydration and gentle cleansing without making it oily. Combination skin needs a cleanser that effectively washes without stripping moisture, contains no irritating ingredients, and includes targeted ingredients to manage oily shine.
What does Squalane do for combination skin?
Squalane helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by locking in moisture without feeling heavy or greasy. It supports the skin barrier and provides lightweight hydration that works well for both dry and oily areas.
Skin Health and Disease, 2024Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2025
What does Glycerin do for combination skin?
Glycerin helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by pulling moisture in and keeping it there. It improves hydration and supports your skin barrier, which is unlikely to cause irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cleanser fits in both your morning and evening routine. To better handle oily shine on combination skin, a cleanser of this type needs added balancing or oil-controlling ingredients.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first to gently wash your skin before putting on your retinol treatment. Using a gentle cleanser helps keep your skin comfortable while managing strong treatments.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. It provides moderate cleansing and hydration for your combination skin without adding extra oiliness.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for combination skin, as squalane and glycerin provide gentle cleansing and hydration without making your skin oily. However, a product for combination skin also needs targeted ingredients to control oily shine.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this cleanser on your body and around the eyes, where the skin is particularly thin. It helps clean these areas gently while providing moisture, though combination skin of this type needs targeted oil-control ingredients to properly address oily shine.
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
Why other cleansers fit combination skin better
A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Combined ascorbyl palmitate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate treatment significantly reduced facial sebum secretions in healthy female volunteers compared to a placebo control over 90 days.
Drug Research, 2017
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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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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