The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser

What we think	almost a yeah

Category: Cleanser Tags: hydration, the ordinary

Review

The Ordinary’s Squalane cleanser is effective but a bit pricey. It provides gentle cleansing, but is it worth the purchase?

Keep reading…

Cleansing is a crucial part of the skincare routine, but its importance is often underestimated. Using a cleanser with the wrong ingredients can negatively impact your skin.

Excessive cleansing or using harsh cleansers can weaken the skin’s protective barrier. A weakened skin barrier can lead to dehydration, inflammation, and increased susceptibility to breakouts. If the skin barrier is compromised, continued use of the same harsh cleanser can exacerbate the problem.

It’s easy to underestimate the damage a cleanser can cause and overlook its importance in skin care. Using the wrong cleanser can be harmful to the skin.

So, this one from Ordinary is a gentle cleanser, but is it worth the price, and does it clean effectively?
Keep reading…

This cleanser is gentle and does not use any surfactants. Surfactants are soap. Facial cleansers have a range of surfactants, from mild to harsh. This one does not have any surfactants. Instead, it uses compounds called esters, which gently cleanse our skin.

If you are looking for a very gentle cleanser, this one can help. It can also help if you have sensitive skin or dehydrated skin. The thing to remember about this cleanser is that it might not be able to wash away all your dirt. Though the promotional material says it can wash away your makeup, it’s doubtful.

Ordinary promotes this as a gentle, hydrating cleanser. It is indeed gentle and hydrating. However, since a cleanser is only on the skin for a short period, its effectiveness in hydrating is debatable as it will be washed away. Squalane is a good ingredient in a moisturizer, but its effectiveness in a cleanser may not be the same as in a moisturiser.

This product is priced a bit higher. If your skin is dehydrated or sensitive or you only like gentle cleansers, then you can consider this cleanser. Otherwise, this cleanser is pricey for what it offers.

How to use the product?

Cleanse your face. Take a few drops of this product in your palm and gently pat it on your skin. Avoid rubbing it on the skin. Instead, pat the product.

Top the product with a moisturiser or a cream. Make sure the product you are applying on top of this product does not have niacinamide.

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Ingredient 1 – Squalane
Function: Strengthens skin barrier, Emollient
The top layer of the skin acts as a barrier. Its function is to keep skin hydrated and protect it from attacks from environmental nasties. A strong skin barrier keeps skin soft, plump, and free from breakouts. Many compounds in the skin help it perform its barrier function. One of them is squalene. Squalene can’t be used in skincare products in its form, so it is converted to squalane (notice the spelling difference) and used in skincare products.
It also softens and smoothens the skin. It does this by forming a thin layer on the skin and reducing the loss of hydration from the skin through evaporation.

Ingredient 2 – Aqua (Water)
Function: Solvent
It helps in dissolving other ingredients in the product.
Dissolved ingredients can spread better on the skin.

Ingredient 3 – Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Function: Emollient
Emollients soften and smoothen the skin.
They do this by forming a thin layer on the skin and reducing the loss of hydration from the skin through evaporation.

Ingredient 4 – Glycerin
Function: Humectant
It is a water magnet. It pulls water molecules from the atmosphere to the top layer of the skin. This way, it hydrates the skin.

Ingredient 5 -Sucrose Stearate
Function: Emulsifier
Keeps the oil-based and water-based ingredients in the product together – blends, unlike ingredients. Without emulsifiers, ingredients in the product will separate.

Ingredient 6 – Ethyl Macadamiate
Function: Emollient
Emollients soften and smoothen the skin.
They do this by forming a thin layer on the skin and reducing the loss of hydration from the skin through evaporation.

Ingredient 7 – Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Function: Emollient
It forms a thin layer on the skin’s surface and reduces the loss of hydration from the skin into the atmosphere through evaporation, thus helping to keep the skin hydrated.

Ingredient 8 – Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
Function: Emollient
Softens the skin by helping keep skin hydrated.

Ingredient 9 – Sucrose Laurate
Function: Emulsifier, Thickener
Keeps the oil-based and water-based ingredients in the product together – blends, unlike ingredients. Without emulsifiers, ingredients in the product will separate. Thickens the product.