2nd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.
Docosan-1-ol
Hydration
The Ordinary
Glycolipid Cream Cleanser
face cleanser
The Ordinary
Glycolipid Cream Cleanser
face cleanser
Added Last edited
Fit by skin type
General, ingredient-based — not your personalized match.
Dry
57%
Combination (dry)
57%
Balanced
87%
Combination (oily)
83%
Oily
83%
See how this fits your skin
Take the skin test and I'll show you how suitable this product is for you.
Take the skin test
16
Ingredients
2
Benefits
0
Actives
A creamy cleanser that’s non-drying, removes makeup, and preserves the natural pH of your skin
Key Insights
Benefits
2
Evens Skin Tone
Hydration
Risks
1
Synthetic polymer
Full Ingredients
16 total
About Glycolipid Cream Cleanser
Overview
Glycolipid Cream Cleanser is a lightweight cleanser from The Ordinary, a brand based in Canada. The formula is built mainly around hydration. The ingredient list runs to 16 ingredients, each broken down in full below.
Texture and finish
By its ingredient list the formula reads as light: water and humectants lead, with emollients kept lower in the order. Hydration is handled by Behenyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate and Pentylene Glycol, humectants that pull water into the upper layers of skin rather than sealing it there.
What the formula does
Hydration: High. Ingredients that pull and hold water in the upper layers of skin, and here that comes from Behenyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Pentylene Glycol and Glyceryl Stearate.
Who it suits
On richness alone it suits Balanced, Combination (oily) and Oily skin best, and is the least natural fit for Dry and Combination (dry) skin. Nothing in the list is flagged as a common irritant, which is a reasonable starting point for reactive skin — though a patch test is still the only way to know.
What it does not target
The formula contributes little or nothing on barrier support, antioxidant protection, oil control and brightening and tone. That is not a fault — most products are not meant to do everything — but if one of those is your priority, this is not the product that will address it.
What is not in it
Reading the full list, the formula is fragrance-free, essential-oil-free, no drying alcohol, paraben-free, silicone-free and microplastic-free. Those claims come from the ingredient list itself, not from the packaging.
Where it fits in a routine
It can be used morning and evening. In a routine it goes first step. Use on damp skin and rinse thoroughly. Follow with a toner or essence while skin is still slightly damp.
This summary is generated from the product's ingredient list. It is not a review, it is not the brand's own marketing claims, and it does not replace advice from a dermatologist.
Pros and cons
Drawn purely from the ingredient list
Pros
- No fragrance or declared allergens
- No essential oils
- No drying alcohol
- Silicone-free
- No microplastics
- Strong humectant content for hydration
- No common irritants flagged in the list
Things to know
- 2 ingredients could feed malassezia (fungal acne)
Which skin types it suits
Scored on how rich or light the formula reads from its INCI order.
Suitable for
- Balanced skin
- Combination (oily) skin
- Oily skin
Less suitable for
- Dry skin
- Combination (dry) skin
Sensitive skin
No ingredient in this formula carries a common-irritant flag, making it a reasonable option for reactive skin. A patch test is still recommended, as individual skin reactivity varies.
Skin concerns
Based on the curated benefits documented for this product's ingredients.
Helps with
-
Hydration 5 ingredients
Attracts and locks in moisture to keep skin plump and dewy
-
Evens Skin Tone 1 ingredient
Brightens and balances complexion for a more uniform appearance
Does not target
Anti-Acne
Anti-Aging
Blackhead Reducing
Dark Spot Fading
Oil Control
Pore Minimizer
Smooths Bumpy Skin
Soothing
None of the ingredients in this formula are associated with these benefits. This is not unusual, as most products are designed to target a limited number of concerns.
Key ingredients
The actives, UV filters and benefit-carrying ingredients in this formula, in the order they are listed.
3rd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.
Stearic acid, monoester with oxybis(propanediol)
Hydration
5th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
1,2-Dihydroxypentane
Hydration
7th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Stearic acid, monoester with glycerol
Hydration
12th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
cis-1,2,3,5-trans-4,6-Cyclohexanehexol, 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakis(dihydrogen phosphate)
Hydration
Evens Skin Tone
Formula analysis
Each axis is scored from the ingredients present and how high up the list they sit.
Hydration
High
Ingredients that pull and hold water in the upper layers of skin
Barrier support
None
Lipids and repair signals that support skin barrier integrity
Antioxidant support
None
Ingredients that mop up free radicals from UV and pollution
Oil control
None
Ingredients that moderate sebum or absorb shine
Brightening
None
Ingredients that act on uneven tone and post-inflammatory marks
Soothing
None
Ingredients aimed at visible redness and reactivity
Cell renewal
None
Retinoids, acids and enzymes that speed surface turnover
Firmness signalling
None
Peptides and growth factors that signal for collagen support
What is and is not in it
Read from the full ingredient list. A brand's own claim may differ.
Free from
- Fragrance-free
- Essential-oil-free
- No drying alcohol
- Paraben-free
- Silicone-free
- Microplastic-free
- Sulfate-free
- Dye-free
- Oil-free
- No animal-derived ingredients
What to layer it with
Judged by the same curated rules our routine checker uses. It reads the ingredients, not the label.
Compatible with
- Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid)
- Retinoids (retinol, retinal)
- AHAs (glycolic, lactic)
- BHA (salicylic acid)
- PHAs (gluconolactone)
- Benzoyl peroxide
- Azelaic acid
- Copper peptides
- Bakuchiol
- Niacinamide
- Hyaluronic acid
- Ceramides
- Signal peptides
- Panthenol
- Sunscreen
Nothing in this formula belongs to a group our rules can put in conflict, so it layers freely. Order still matters — thinnest texture first.
Where it fits in a routine
Morning
Evening
- Cleanse
- Toning
- Treat
- Moisturise
- Protect
This product is the "Cleanse" step.
- Use on damp skin and rinse thoroughly.
- Follow with a toner or essence while skin is still slightly damp.
Safety and suitability
Flags to check, not verdicts. None of this is medical advice — if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or treating a skin condition, ask a doctor.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Nothing in this formula is on the standard pregnancy-caution list. That is not clearance — ask your doctor about anything you use daily.
- Fungal acne (malassezia)
- 2 ingredients could feed malassezia: Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate. That is about the yeast's food supply, not a prediction that you will break out.
- Sensitive and reactive skin
- No ingredient in this formula carries a common-irritant flag, making it a reasonable option for reactive skin. A patch test is still recommended, as individual skin reactivity varies.
- Recorded ingredient risks
- Synthetic polymer
Ingredients by function
Most ingredients do more than one job, so these counts add up to more than the 16 ingredients on the label.
4
Surfactant
Lifts oil and dirt, or holds oil and water together
4
Texture agent
Sets the thickness, spread and stability of the formula
3
Emollient
Softens and smooths by filling gaps between skin cells
3
Chelator
Binds trace metals that would otherwise spoil the formula
3
Preservative
Keeps the product free of microbial growth
2
Solvent
Dissolves and carries everything else
Ingredient breakdown
Every ingredient on the label, in order, with what it does and roughly how much of it is likely to be there.
- Estimated level
- 30–80%
- Confidence
- Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
- Roles
- Solvent
1st on the list, which puts it at an estimated 30–80% of the formula.
Water
- Estimated level
- 5–20%
- Confidence
- Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
- Roles
- Emollient, Texture agent
2nd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.
Docosan-1-ol
Hydration
5 scientific references
- International Journal of Cosmetic Science, April 2017, pages 206-216
- International Journal of Toxicology, May 2014, pages 77-142
- Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, March 2010, Volume 11, pages 853-860
- Journal of the American College of Toxicology, 1988, pages 1-55
- CosmeticsInfoorg, ePublication
- Estimated level
- 5–20%
- Confidence
- Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
- Roles
- Surfactant
3rd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.
Stearic acid, monoester with oxybis(propanediol)
Hydration
- Estimated level
- 2–10%
- Confidence
- Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
4th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Glycolipids are mixed substances which contain carbohydrates covalently attached to a lipid
- Estimated level
- 2–10%
- Confidence
- Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
- Roles
- Solvent
5th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
1,2-Dihydroxypentane
Hydration
4 scientific references
- https://thedermreviewcom/pentylene-glycol/
- Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, July 2017, pages 106-111
- Prospector, June 2015, ePublication
- International Journal of Toxicology, October 2012, pages 147S-168S
- Estimated level
- 2–10%
- Confidence
- Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
- Roles
- Surfactant
6th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.
Diester of hexaglycerol and capric acid
- Estimated level
- 1–5%
- Confidence
- Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
- Roles
- Emollient, Surfactant
7th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Stearic acid, monoester with glycerol
Hydration
3 scientific references
- Cosmeticsinfoorg, Accessed November 2021, ePublication
- Drugs in Context, April 2018, pages 1-14
- International Journal of Toxicology, May 2007, pages 1–30
- Estimated level
- 1–5%
- Confidence
- Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
- Roles
- Emollient, Surfactant, Texture agent
8th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Octadecan-1-ol
- Estimated level
- 1–5%
- Confidence
- Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
- Roles
- Texture agent
9th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Diutan Gum is a fermentation product produced by the mircrorganism Sphingomonas sp. ATCC 53159.
- Estimated level
- 1–5%
- Confidence
- Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
- Roles
- Texture agent
10th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 1–5% of the formula.
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 is a copolymer of ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate, dimethylacrylamide, lauryl methacrylate and laureth-4 methacrylate, crosslinked with trimethylolpropane triacrylate
Synthetic polymer
- Estimated level
- under 1%
- Confidence
- Moderate — listed below the 1% line
- Roles
- Chelator
11th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Myo-Inositol, hexakis(dihydrogen phosphate), sodium salt
- Estimated level
- under 1%
- Confidence
- Moderate — listed below the 1% line
- Roles
- Chelator
12th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
cis-1,2,3,5-trans-4,6-Cyclohexanehexol, 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakis(dihydrogen phosphate)
Hydration
Evens Skin Tone
5 scientific references
- Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, March 2021, Volume 20, Issue 3, pages 776-780
- International Journal of Dermatology, February 2021, Volume 60, Issue 2, pages 166-173
- https://wwwcir-safetyorg/sites/default/files/phytic122017reppdf
- Journal of Food Science and Technology, February 2015, pages 676-684
- The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, October 2011, Volume 4, Issue 10, pages 40-48
- Estimated level
- under 1%
- Confidence
- Moderate — listed below the 1% line
- Roles
- Chelator
13th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
L-Aspartic acid, N,N'-1,2-ethanediylbis-, trisodium salt
- Estimated level
- under 1%
- Confidence
- Moderate — listed below the 1% line
- Roles
- Preservative
14th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
Sodium benzoate
- Estimated level
- under 1%
- Confidence
- Moderate — listed below the 1% line
- Roles
- Preservative
15th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
2-Phenoxyethanol
- Estimated level
- under 1%
- Confidence
- Moderate — listed below the 1% line
- Roles
- Preservative
16th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.
1,2-Propanediol, 3-(4-chlorophenoxy)-
People also compare
Products in the same category that share this formula's distinguishing ingredients.
Cicaluronic Low Ph Cleanser
Mizon
Shares 2 key ingredients with Glycolipid Cream Cleanser: Glyceryl Stearate, Pentylene Glycol
Frequently asked questions
What ingredients are in Glycolipid Cream Cleanser?
AQUA, BEHENYL ALCOHOL, POLYGLYCERYL-2 STEARATE, GLYCOLIPIDS, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, POLYGLYCERYL-6 DICAPRATE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, STEARYL ALCOHOL, DIUTAN GUM, POLYACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER-6, SODIUM PHYTATE, PHYTIC ACID, TRISODIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINE DISUCCINATE, SODIUM BENZOATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, CHLORPHENESIN.
How do I use Glycolipid Cream Cleanser?
-Dispense product into hands. Massage well onto dry face and rinse with warm water. This formula can also be applied to wet skin if desired
What skin types is Glycolipid Cream Cleanser good for?
Judged on how rich the formula reads from its ingredient list, it suits Balanced, Combination (oily), Oily skin best. It is the least natural fit for Dry, Combination (dry) skin.
Is Glycolipid Cream Cleanser good for sensitive skin?
No ingredient in this formula carries a common-irritant flag, making it a reasonable option for reactive skin. A patch test is still recommended, as individual skin reactivity varies.
Is Glycolipid Cream Cleanser fungal acne safe?
2 ingredients could feed malassezia: Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate. That describes the yeast's food supply, not a prediction that they will cause a breakout.
Can I use Glycolipid Cream Cleanser while pregnant?
Nothing in this formula is on the standard pregnancy-caution list. That is not medical clearance — check anything you use daily with your doctor or midwife.
Is Glycolipid Cream Cleanser fragrance free?
Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is fragrance-free.
Does Glycolipid Cream Cleanser contain alcohol?
No. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is no drying alcohol.
Is Glycolipid Cream Cleanser silicone free?
Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is silicone-free.
Does Glycolipid Cream Cleanser contain essential oils?
No. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is essential-oil-free.
Is Glycolipid Cream Cleanser paraben free?
Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is paraben-free.
What can I layer with Glycolipid Cream Cleanser?
It layers well with Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), Retinoids (retinol, retinal), AHAs (glycolic, lactic), BHA (salicylic acid), PHAs (gluconolactone), Benzoyl peroxide.
When should I apply Glycolipid Cream Cleanser?
Use it morning and evening, first step.
How many ingredients does Glycolipid Cream Cleanser have?
It lists 16 ingredients, of which 0 are recorded as actives.
Who makes Glycolipid Cream Cleanser?
The Ordinary, a brand based in Canada.