PoreWise The Ordinary · Cleansers
Squalane Cleanser
Product
- Brand:
- The Ordinary
- Product type:
- Cleansers
- Last checked:
- 2026-10-12
- Formula version:
- Pack label · 2026-10-12
- Fragrance & alcohol:
- Fragrance-free · Alcohol-free
18 ingredients on this list · SQUALANE at number 1 · WATER at number 2 · COCO-CAPRYLATE/CAPRATE at number 3
Product description
A soap-free, non-foaming cleanser built on squalane and sugar-based esters. Marketed as pulling makeup and dirt off while leaving the barrier in place. The ingredient list leads with squalane.
Brand's own claims
- Removes makeup and dirt without stripping the skin (brand claim).
- Non-comedogenic and soap-free (brand claim).
The brand's own claims, quoted from its own material.
Full ingredient list
Kept exactly as the source printed it, including spelling in the original.
- 1 SQUALANE
- 2 WATER
- 3 COCO-CAPRYLATE/CAPRATE
- 4 GLYCERIN
- 5 SUCROSE STEARATE
- 6 ETHYL MACADAMIATE
- 7 CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE
- 8 HYDROGENATED STARCH HYDROLYSATE
- 9 SUCROSE LAURATE
- 10 POLYACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER-6
- 11 ISOCETETH-20
- 12 SODIUM POLYACRYLATE
- 13 TOCOPHEROL
- 14 HYDROXYMETHOXYPHENYL DECANONE
- 15 TRISODIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINE DISUCCINATE
- 16 MALIC ACID
- 17 ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN
- 18 CHLORPHENESIN
Original label text
Squalane, Aqua (Water), Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Sucrose Stearate, Ethyl Macadamiate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Sucrose Laurate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Isoceteth-20, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tocopherol, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Malic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin.
Ingredient analysis
GLYCERIN · Humectants · SQUALANE · Emollients · SQUALANE · Occlusives
Humectants
3Bind water and draw it into the upper layers of the skin.
Emollients
5Fill the gaps between corneocytes to soften and smooth the surface.
Preservatives
2Inhibit microbial growth so the product stays safe to use.
Antioxidants
2Slow oxidation of the formula or of skin surface lipids.
Soothing agents
1Used to reduce the sensation of irritation or discomfort.
Chelating agents
1Binds metal ions to keep the formula stable.
Texture agents
3Set the viscosity and feel of a formula.
Emulsifiers
3Keep oil and water mixed in a stable formula.
Evidence
- Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Moderate Primary source
In a randomized, double-blind, four-arm crossover study of 51 healthy volunteers with dry skin, an emollient containing glycerol and petrolatum raised corneometry-measured skin moisture significantly above its vehicle (P < 0.0001) over 12 hours. The authors attributed the hydration gain to the glycerol component and the lower water loss to the petrolatum component.
Who it applies to: Corneometry (skin moisture) and transepidermal water loss over 12 hours after one application.
Study limits: Measured on the forearms. The significant hydration result comes from the full emollient containing both glycerol and petrolatum.
- Skin effect Review article Certainty: Moderate Primary source
Topical glycerol improves stratum corneum hydration, barrier function and skin mechanical properties. The review also reports reduced irritation response and faster wound healing, and traces the effect to aquaporin-3 transport and to glycerol's own presence in the skin.
Who it applies to: Leave-on products. The review discusses both healthy skin and skin with dry or barrier-impaired conditions such as atopic dermatitis.
Study limits: A narrative review. It compiles mechanisms and results from other studies.
- Skin effect Official ingredient listing Certainty: High Public database
Glycerin is classified as a humectant in cosmetic ingredient databases: its role in a formula is to hold water.
Who it applies to: Cosmetic formulas generally. · Ingredient database · GLYCERIN
Study limits: Skin effect of to the stratum corneum comes from a separate review of the literature. · Ingredient database · GLYCERIN
- Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Moderate Primary source
In a split-face randomized controlled trial of 50 women, a serum with 20% vitamin C, vitamin E and raspberry leaf cell culture extract significantly improved skin radiance measured by Glossymeter GL200, along with skin colour and elasticity, over 2 months.
Who it applies to: Women aged 30-65 applying the serum to one side of the face for 2 months, with the untreated side as control.
Study limits: Split-face with an untreated.
- Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Low Primary source
In 31 women aged 43-65, a serum combining vitamins C and E with green tea polyphenols produced statistically significant improvements in all clinically graded parameters over 12 weeks, including enhanced skin smoothness and radiance, plus an ultrasound-measured increase in skin density.
Who it applies to: Women aged 43-65 with photoaged facial skin, applying the serum twice daily for 12 weeks.
Study limits: Radiance was a clinical grading parameter.
- Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Low Primary source
In a double-blind trial that split each scar into two halves. Or made worse, the cosmetic appearance.
Who it applies to: Scars after surgical removal of skin cancer, treated twice daily for four weeks with a petrolatum-based ointment.
Study limits: Fifteen people, one centre, published in 1999. Pigmentation, or the job vitamin E does inside a formula, where it slows oxidation of the oils.
- Sensitization Human trial Certainty: Low Primary source
In the same split-scar trial, 33% of the participants developed contact dermatitis to the vitamin E ointment.
Who it applies to: Vitamin E in a petrolatum-based ointment applied to healing surgical wounds, twice daily for four weeks.
Study limits: Small trial (15 people) with a single product.
Related skin concerns
Skin concerns with evidence for ingredients on this list.
Formula history
1 version of this formula on record.