Explore Routine Login

Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser versus The INKEY List Fulvic Acid Brightening Cleanser .

Last updated on January 25, 2024. Published on April 22, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 3 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin

Free From

They both do not contain any parabens, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Face Cleanser Canadian Brand Canada
Face Cleanser British Brand United Kingdom

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Price

Shop

Buy Squalane Cleanser

Starts at $9.00
Shop

Buy Fulvic Acid Brightening Cleanser

Starts at $15.49

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
ph level
6
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

AHA
Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating (3)
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging
Scar Healing (2)
Brightening (3)

Concerns

Irritating (3)
Rosacea

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation
Dark Spots
Brightening

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema
Join our community

Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.

Join SkinSort

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

Loading ingredients...

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 2.

The INKEY List Fulvic Acid Brightening Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 4.

The INKEY List Fulvic Acid Brightening Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 3.

3
What it does: Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.

Within a product, Caprylic Triglyceride can thicken the product and make spreadability easier by dissolving clumping compounds. An added benefit of Caprylic Triglyceride is its antioxidant properties.

Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Caprylic Triglyceride has not been found to be toxic for human use in concentrations under 50%.

While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.

Learn more about Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 7.

The INKEY List Fulvic Acid Brightening Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 9.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

30% are loved or liked
20% have mixed ratings
25% are disliked or very disliked
25% have no rating yet
32% are loved or liked
11% have mixed ratings
53% are disliked or very disliked
5% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

Loading routine usage...
Loading routine usage...

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser 20 ingredients

4.4 /5
from 18 ratings
Great Value (3) No Scent (3) Works Well (3) Light (1) Irritating (1) Hydrating (1)
gemmajaws's avatar

gemmajaws

2 years ago · Dry Skin
Review

Meh
It looks, smells, and feels like you are spreading Elmer’s glue all over your face although it does seem to work as a gentle cleanser. ...

Meh
It looks, smells, and feels like you are spreading Elmer’s glue all over your face although it does seem to work as a gentle cleanser. Packaging is good, simplicity of ingredients is nice, as is the price. I've not repurchased it though.

CustardBunny's avatar

CustardBunny

8 months ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

Godsend for my acne
I previously had a different routine and didnt expect much from this brand as its cheap, but oh my god my acne cleared so much...

Godsend for my acne
I previously had a different routine and didnt expect much from this brand as its cheap, but oh my god my acne cleared so much from just a month of this set. Amazing.

The INKEY List Fulvic Acid Brightening Cleanser 19 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 2 ratings
Great Value (1) Hydrating (1) No Scent (1) Works Well (1)
tlluto's avatar

tlluto

3 days ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

gentle cleansing + remove the residue of the make up so well + smoothing + calming my skin + for me is pretty hydrating which is weird cause it’s...

gentle cleansing + remove the residue of the make up so well + smoothing + calming my skin + for me is pretty hydrating which is weird cause it’s an acid cleanser ! + a little bit of brightening

* i have dry / sensitive / acne prone skin

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 15 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser.

See 15 alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to The INKEY List Fulvic Acid Brightening Cleanser.

See 50 alternatives
Loading similar comparisons...