If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I’m always on the hunt for good, affordable cleansers: I consider cleansing to be of extreme importance and while I’m personally ready to pay a small fortune for a good skin-cleaning product, not everybody can or wants to do so. For reasons that remain shrouded in mystery, it’s so much easier to find a good budget serum than it is to locate a proper cleanser that is also cheap.

When I say ‘proper’, I mean a well-formulated cleanser that doesn’t foam (it almost inevitably means stripping the skin); is meant to be washed rather than tissued off and doesn’t include scrubby bits. Wipes are obviously a complete no-no and while micellar waters are fine, they still need a proper cleansing step after you’ve gotten rid of makeup. I always double cleanse (makeup removal with a balm or oil, skin cleansing with something lighter), but if you don’t, it makes sense to have a product that does both.

The Ordinary Squalene Cleanser does and in a rather spectacular fashion. It has this creamy-balmy jelly texture that I love and that turns to oil (well, not technically, as squalane isn’t chemically an oil) on skin. It removes makeup very well* and I enjoy how it feels on the skin. You can wash it off easily or, as I always do, use a flannel**. I’ve used it as my first cleanse, second cleanse and morning cleanse and it’s great for everything. I also like to take it to the gym, because the packaging is so convenient and compact. There is absolutely zero irritation and it leaves the skin supple and nice.

If you read my recent post on Drunk Elephant’s Slaai, you know how much I love that beautiful cleansing balm and how strongly I recommend it. However, I think I have in fact been using The Ordinary cleanser more often, because it’s even easier to use and I really like the texture. I’m not saying this to take anything away from Slaai, it just goes to show how much I rate this little tube of white jelly.

There are two small issues. The first one I haven’t seen mentioned much, so maybe it’s just me, but I really don’t like the smell. I think it’s actually the ingredients that I smell and I can handle it, unfortunately it just doesn’t spark any joy. The second caveat is maybe somewhat unexpected: considering the size of the tube (50ml), it isn’t actually as affordable as it seems at first glance. Jordan Samuel’s After Show cleanser works out at a very similar price and is, I admit, even nicer. However, it isn’t that easy to get outside the US, so I still think The Ordinary is a good deal. Apparently, there will also be a larger size, which I’m sure will also improve the price per millilitre ratio.

Skincare is of course always subjective: what works for me may not work for you, you may prefer different textures, scents or sensations. For me personally, this offering from The Ordinary will replace CeraVe as my default recommendation for a reasonably priced cleanser. It should work for every skin type, but for dry skin in particular.

Have you tried this? What did you think?

*Just keep in mind I don’t use waterproof mascara.
**I think this is the best way, but if you are sensitive, it might bee too much.