The Ordinary has launched its third cleanser, The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser, a non-foaming cream cleanser formulated to leave your skin feeling clean, soft, and hydrated.
I love cream cleansers, so I quickly ordered from the O. Lab’s pre-launch.
The O. Lab is a platform where you can preview and purchase The Ordinary products before they launch in stores. You can sign up for free here!
I’ve been testing the face wash and will share my thoughts on its performance in this The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser Review.
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The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser
The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser is a water-based cream cleanser formulated to remove makeup, dirt, oil, and other impurities without foam.
The face wash contains a plant-derived glycolipid cleansing agent that cleanses without stripping the skin or compromising your delicate skin barrier that keeps hydration and moisture in and external irritants out.
Glycolipids are natural surfactants that work to gently cleanse and moisturize your skin without over-drying it.
Since glycolipids are gentle surfactants, they are ideal for sensitive skin, as they are less likely to cause irritation than harsher surfactants.
It is formulated at a pH similar to the skin’s natural pH and provides a mild cleansing that won’t irritate or dry out your skin.
The cleanser is fragrance-free and notably doesn’t contain many additional actives, which is another plus if you have sensitive skin.
The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser Review
The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser has a lightweight gel-cream texture. It feels very creamy on application and melts into my skin.
The cleanser is fragrance-free, but I do notice a slight scent that must naturally come from the ingredients. It reminds me of a light, coconuty, nutty fragrance. The scent is very faint, though.
The face wash becomes milky when mixed with water. It gets creamier the more it is massaged into your skin.
It rinses away easily with lukewarm water and doesn’t leave behind any residue.
After using the cleanser, my skin feels soft, smooth, and hydrated, not tight or dry, like some foaming cleansers.
I find that an oil-based cleanser, like The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser discussed below, does a better job at melting away hard-to-remove eye makeup like mascara.
I prefer saving this cleanser for the second step of a double cleanse. It’s also lovely as my only cleanse in the morning, especially when my skin is feeling dry from retinol or acid use.
While Glycolipid Cream Cleanser doesn’t have any extra bells or whistles (i.e., active ingredients), that’s what makes it perfect for sensitive skin types.
I also think The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser is a great option for those with dry skin who are looking for an effective yet gentle cleanser since it doesn’t weaken your skin barrier.
If you prefer a foaming cleanser, then this cleanser isn’t the best choice for you. Go for The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser instead.
How To Use The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser
Apply The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser onto your hands and then onto your dry face. Massage gently to remove dirt, makeup, excess oil, sunscreen, and other impurities. You can use it in your morning and evening skincare routines.
You can also apply it to wet skin if you prefer. Rinse with warm water and pat your skin dry.
You can use the cleanser as your only cleanser or pair it with an oil-based cleanser:
Use a cleansing balm or cleansing oil as the first step in your double cleanse routine to remove stubborn makeup, sunscreen, and other impurities, and follow with The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser to clean your skin.
Be sure to patch test before using this cleanser or any new product for the first time to avoid an adverse initial reaction.
This product’s shelf life is 12 months after opening. Read more about The Ordinary expiration dates in this post that includes a handy downloadable PDF.
The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser Conflicts
Glycolipid Cream Cleanser has no conflicts, so you can use this cleanser with other skincare products without worrying about conflicting ingredients.
Quick & Easy Hydrating The Ordinary Skincare Routine
If you want an easy The Ordinary skincare routine that boosts skin hydration and helps smooth the look of wrinkles and fine lines, consider the following products -> cleanser, serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen:
- The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser (can pair with The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser if you want to double cleanse)
- The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + HA
- The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA OR The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + PhytoCeramides (for extra nourishment)
- The Ordinary Mineral UV Filters SPF 30 with Antioxidants (AM skincare routine only)
For more The Ordinary skincare routines, check out my post How To Build A Skincare Routine With The Ordinary.
The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser Vs The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser
You might be wondering how Glycolipid Cream Cleanser measures up against The Ordinary’s other cleansers, so let’s start the comparison with The Ordinary’s original cleanser, The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser.
The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser (shown above in the smaller 1.7 oz size) is an ultra-gentle, non-stripping cleanser that effectively removes makeup and impurities while respecting the skin’s natural pH.
It has a cream-gel-like consistency and leaves skin feeling plump, soft, and smooth, never tight or dry.
The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser is oil-based, as it contains squalane to help nourish and soften skin.
Squalane is a lightweight, non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores) active ingredient with an oily texture that helps lock in moisture without feeling greasy or heavy on your skin.
The fragrance-free cleanser also contains moisturizing glycerin and the antioxidant vitamin E.
The cleanser emulsifies when mixed with water, making it an ideal first cleanse in a double cleanse to remove makeup and sunscreen.
As I previously mentioned, The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser is water-based with a creamy texture and doesn’t remove makeup quite as well as Squalane Cleanser.
So I think Glycolipid Cream Cleanser is better as a second cleanse to clean your skin after removing makeup or as a single cleanse in the morning.
The Bottom Line: The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser is oil-based, has a thicker texture than Glycolipid Cream Cleanser, and does a better job removing makeup. These two The Ordinary cleansers work well together as Step 1 and Step 2 of a double cleanse.
Related Post: The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser Review
The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser vs The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser
The main difference between The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser vs The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser is in their names: one is a non-foaming cream cleanser, and one is a foaming cleanser.
The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser is a foaming gel cleanser that uses gentle plant-derived cleansing agents to remove makeup, dirt, and oil without stripping the skin of moisture.
It lathers up nicely for a fragrance-free cleanse and rinses away without leaving any residue.
The foaming cleanser is ideal for combination and oily skin types as it doesn’t leave your skin with a film or greasy layer after rinsing.
Both Glycolipid Cream Cleanser and Glucoside Foaming Cleanser remove makeup, but I noticed that Glucoside Foaming Cleanser removes my makeup easier, with less effort.
You can use them alone or as a second cleanse when paired with an oil cleanser.
The Bottom Line: The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser has a non-foaming cream texture and is better suited to dry skin types, while The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser foams and is better suited to combination or oily skin types.
Related Post: The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser Review
The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser: Buy It or Skip It?
I think The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser is an easy buy if you have sensitive skin or a dry skin type. You don’t have to worry about harsh chemicals or fragrances as this product is 100% vegan and cruelty-free.
There aren’t extra moisturizing or soothing actives in the cleanser, though, so it’s more on the basic side, which actually might be what you need if your skin gets easily irritated.
It’s an affordable cream cleanser that pairs well with other The Ordinary products too, so if you’re looking for a non-irritating no-fuss cleanser, I think The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser is worth a try.
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Thanks for reading!
Sarah Roberts is the founder, writer, and photographer behind A Beauty Edit. With over 10 years of experience in the beauty industry, Sarah is an avid skincare and beauty enthusiast who shares the best beauty finds to help you save time and money!