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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser versus The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm .

Last updated on January 25, 2024. Published on February 08, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 2 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, scar healing and better texture

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 Oat Cleansing Balm

Starts at $13.00

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

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Exfoliators (2)

Benefits

Hydrating
Redness Reducing
Skin Texture
Anti-Aging (2)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing (2)
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (2)
Acne Trigger
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (2)
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Ingredients Side-by-side

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

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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 Oat Cleansing Balm contains this as ingredient number 11.

2
What it does: Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 15.

The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm contains this as ingredient number 17.

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
21% are loved or liked
5% have mixed ratings
63% are disliked or very disliked
11% have no rating yet

Usage

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

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser 20 ingredients

4.4 /5
from 18 reviews
Someone_Else's Avatar'
Oct 28, 2023

gently removes make-up and excess oil

gently removes make-up and excess oil

CustardBunny's Avatar'
Sep 22, 2023

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.

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.

gemmajaws's Avatar'
Jan 10, 2022

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...

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.

The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm 19 ingredients

3.2 /5
from 22 reviews
Lapaki's Avatar'
Dec 3, 2023

Well, it is gentle, but I didn't like the experience. Usually, my cleansing balms and oils emulsify as soon as I start adding water on my face, and wash off nicely. However, this one somehow doesn't... Even after double cleansing....

Well, it is gentle, but I didn't like the experience. Usually, my cleansing balms and oils emulsify as soon as I start adding water on my face, and wash off nicely. However, this one somehow doesn't... Even after double cleansing. Perhaps a stronger second cleanser would help, but my skin only tolerates milky washes/cleansers. I would have given it three stars, but the strong, off-putting smell just adds to the 'meh' effect.

Great Value
Heavy
Lurielle's Avatar'
Nov 30, 2023

It's the only oil-based cleanser without clogg-poring ingredients that I could find and at a good price point. Of course it leaves an oily residue behind, bul all balms do. Nothing a water-based cleanser can't solve afterwards, we should...

It's the only oil-based cleanser without clogg-poring ingredients that I could find and at a good price point. Of course it leaves an oily residue behind, bul all balms do. Nothing a water-based cleanser can't solve afterwards, we should do the double-cleansing anyways.
It would be better to change the package into a pump system, it would be less messy and more practical.

Great Value
Oily
Works Well
AllyF.'s Avatar'
Mar 17, 2024

This Oat Cleansing Balm is a lifesaver if you are acne prone and need a noncomedogenic, gentle balm for double cleansing. This has become a staple in my night time routine!

This Oat Cleansing Balm is a lifesaver if you are acne prone and need a noncomedogenic, gentle balm for double cleansing. This has become a staple in my night time routine!

Great Value
Works Well

Alternatives

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

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Our Dupe Finder has found 3 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm.

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