The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser — Efficacy 3.5/5.0, Safety 4.7/5.0 | DemythSkin
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[ DemythSkin Verdict ]
The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser
The Ordinary

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser

CleanserCleansing
Efficacy
Basic
3.5 / 5.0
Safety
Safe
4.7 / 5.0
System Verdict
Good cleanser, nothing more: it removes makeup and grime gently, but the “hydrating” claim is mostly just the rinse-off feel of an emollient-rich base. The efficacy score is driven by a mild, non-stripping cleansing system built around oils/esters and sucrose-based surfactants, plus humectants like glycerin and hydrogenated starch hydrolysate; it does not earn extra credit for antioxidants or malic acid because this is a rinse-off format and those are unlikely to deliver meaningful lasting skin benefits.
Active Ingredients Detected
A Tier: Good BasicsProven Results
SqualaneGlycerinTocopherol
B Tier: Supporting IngredientsPromising Ingredients
Sucrose StearateEthyl MacadamiateSucrose LaurateHydrogenated Starch HydrolysateSucrose DilaurateSucrose TrilaurateIsoceteth-20Hydroxymethoxyphenyl DecanoneTrisodium Ethylenediamine DisuccinateMalic Acid
What Each Ingredient Does
Squalane
emollient cleansing base
Aqua (Water)
solvent
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
light emollient
Glycerin
humectant
Sucrose Stearate
surfactant/emulsifier
Ethyl Macadamiate
emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
emollient
Sucrose Laurate
surfactant/emulsifier
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
humectant
Sucrose Dilaurate
surfactant/emulsifier
Sucrose Trilaurate
surfactant/emulsifier
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
viscosity modifier
Isoceteth-20
solubilizer
Sodium Polyacrylate
thickener
Tocopherol
antioxidant
Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
antioxidant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
chelating agent
Malic Acid
pH adjuster
Ethylhexylglycerin
preservative booster
Chlorphenesin
preservative
Full Ingredient List (INCI)

Squalane, Aqua (Water), Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Sucrose Stearate, Ethyl Macadamiate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sucrose Laurate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Sucrose Dilaurate, Sucrose Trilaurate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Isoceteth-20, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tocopherol, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Malic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin

Frequently Asked

Is The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser worth it?

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser scores 3.5 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Basic) and 4.7 out of 5.0 for safety (Safe) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. Good cleanser, nothing more: it removes makeup and grime gently, but the “hydrating” claim is mostly just the rinse-off feel of an emollient-rich base. The efficacy score is driven by a mild, non-stripping cleansing syst

What are the key active ingredients in The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser?

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser contains no gold-standard actives — its formula is built on supporting and base ingredients rather than clinically transformative actives.

Does The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser contain fragrance or known irritants?

DemythSkin's analysis found no flagged irritants in The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser. It scores 4.7 out of 5.0 for safety.

How is The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser scored?

DemythSkin grades every product on two independent axes: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are classified S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. No brand pays for a score.

Analyze on DemythSkin →

Analysis last updated: 2026-08-25. DemythSkin is an independent ingredient analyzer. Scores are computed by a deterministic rubric from published clinical evidence — no brand pays for a score.