The Ordinary 100 Plant Derived Squalane
Product Reviews

100% Plant Derived Squalane Review | The Ordinary

I’ll be honest with you – I’ve never tried The Ordinary before. All my friends rant and rave about how great their skincare products are, but I’ve never tried it myself. Until now, of course!

I needed a hydrating product that I could use after my latest Bulldog Face Mask but still calming for my skin. Something that could work on my oily skin without making it worse.

I’ve also been dealing with some skin irritation from Asian Flush. Basically my body doens’t handle alcohol properly, and one of the major symptoms is red facial flushing. Thankfully using Sunset Alcohol Flush Support has been helping with the really awful symptoms I get, but I wanted something gentle to help my skin as well. Nothing like a few drinks to really anger your skin, especially if you have Asian Flush! If you want to learn more about Asian Flush, check out my review or Sunset’s website actually has a lot of resources.

Anyway! Was this plant-based product worth the try? Check out my review below!

What is The Ordinary 100 Plant-Derived Squalane?

Since I’ve been learning about skin care over the last few years, I didn’t really understand what this product even was. Sure, it’s in a cute bottle. But what actually is squalane, let alone plant-derived squalane?

According to The Ordinary, squalane is a “saturated and stable hydrocarbon that is found naturally in the skin.” However, over time (usually after our 20s) the amount of this natural chemical decreases in the body. That’s why skin can become dry and rough as we age (among other reasons, of course).

What’s great about this product is that it’s exceptionally hydrating and can prevent ongoing loss of hydration that reduces skin suppleness. Because it’s non-comedogenic, this product can be used by all skin types, even sensitive skin. It’s basically like giving your body back such a helpful and natural chemical that it’s starting to lack.

What surprised me is that you can also use these drops by applying it to your hair to increase heat protection, add shine and reduce breakages. For someone with hair that constantly falls out, the fact that a few drops can reduce breakage potential is great for me.

This squalane is basically an all-around product!

I also really appreciate that this product is so affordable. Although it’s small, I know one bottle will last me a long time and won’t come close to breaking my budget when I need to re-buy it.

The Ordinary 100 Plant Derived Squalane review

What’s Squalane like?

The Ordinary’s 100% Plant-Derived Squalane comes in a cute, minimal bottle (like all of their products). By using the small stopper, you drop the desired amount of product onto your hair or hand to use. Typically, I only use about four drops in my hand to properly cover my whole face.

The first time I used it, I felt like it was too oily-feeling. Granted, I used too much of it. The next time I used four drops and it was perfect. First I drop them into my hand and then apply them to my whole face. Even for my combination skin, it felt extremely hydrating and made my skin feel supple and bright.

Originally I bought the Oil Control Face Mask from Bulldog (which I love by the way). However, you need to hydrate after using it. Because it sucks the gross oil from my face so well, I needed a proper hydrating product to use afterwards. That’s why I wanted to try The Ordinary. A friend recommended I use their 100% Plant Derived Squalane and I’m glad I did. It’s the perfect product to use after such a drying face mask.

After using it a few times after my oil control face masks, my skin looks way more radiant than before.

What in these squalane drops?

The ingredients in the Ordinary’s 100% plant-derived squalane: squalane. That’s it!

Other things to keep in mind about this product:

  • Water-free
  • Vegan
  • Nut-free
  • Alcohol-free
  • Oil-free
  • Silicone-free
  • Cruelty-free
  • Gluten-free

Basically, it’s free of everything other than what’s on the bottle. Something to ease your mind if you don’t like using over-complicated products. It’s safe to say this is the first skincare product I’ve ever used that only has one ingredient. Why isn’t this more common?

The Ordinary 100 Plant Derived Squalane

What does The Ordinary Squalane feel like?

At first, because I put too much on, it felt way too oily. I felt like my skin wasn’t absorbing it, but made me look shiny.

Once I figured out that four drops would ideal for me, I loved it! It feels incredibly hydrating, especially for areas of dry skin. Even with my acne prone skin, I haven’t noticed any additional breaks out from using the product. Always an added bonus. I’ve read a few reviews that this has helped other users with both oily and dry skin. A great moisturizer for those of us stuck with combination skin!

I typically do my face mask and subsequent squalane drops in the evening. However, I try to do it a few hours or so before bed, so the product has time to fully absorb into my skin without rubbing off on my pillow. Even by the next morning, my skin looks bright and clear.

As with any product, you should conduct a patch test before using it fully. Simply apply a drop or two to your skin. If you don’t have a negative reaction, it’s safe to say that you can use the product without a reaction.

Final verdict

At the end of the day, I love this product! It does exactly what I need it to do: hydrate my skin without clogging it up. It’s pure, clean and leaves my skin feeling wonderful. My skin has been a bit upset lately from alcohol and Asian Flush symptoms, but this has really calmed it down and hydrated it back to its former glory.

I’m genuinely glad I gave this product a shot – 100% plant-derived squalane is my new best friend!

Emma x

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