Is Cleansing Oil Better Than Balm for Your Skin?

You’ve been double-cleansing wrong—this humble tube might be the reason your skin is still breaking out. I’m not joking.

Everyone thinks you need a heavy oil to melt SPF. That’s a lie. This gel-to-milk cleanser from The Ordinary dissolves makeup like a whisper, not a shout. The problem? You’re using it like a scrub, not a solvent.

It’s called Squalane Cleanser. Costs $11.80. The claim that made me roll my eyes? “Removes makeup without stripping.” Yeah, sure, Jan.

But then I actually read the texture. It’s a solid balm that turns into milk—not oil. That changes everything.

Photo: Kaeme / Unsplash

Squalane is the hero—it’s basically your skin’s natural oil, so it tricks your barrier into feeling calm. No stripping. No tightness. Just clean.

But the weird part? It has 4% glycerin and amino esters. That’s why your face feels hydrated *before* you even apply moisturizer.

• Squalane: mimics skin’s natural oils, dissolves grime without irritation
• Glycerin: pulls water in, prevents that post-cleanse tightness
• Amino Esters: gentle surfactant that lifts sunscreen without foaming
• Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate: soft lather that doesn’t disrupt pH

Photo: Chalo Garcia / Unsplash

First squeeze: it’s a stiff balm. Rub it between palms—suddenly it’s a silky milk. That transition is *chef’s kiss*. You feel it melt into your pores, not sit on top.

Week 2: my chin bumps vanished. Not because it’s a treatment, but because I was actually removing sunscreen properly. I felt dumb. And clear.

Photo: Greg Rakozy / Unsplash

Three weeks in: fewer clogged pores on my nose. Makeup wipes off in one pass. No stinging eyes. But my blackheads? Still there. This isn’t a miracle—it’s a proper first step.

Photo: Linh Ha / Unsplash

Cleansing oil isn’t better than balm—cleansing *gently* is. This tube does that without the mess. Keep it.