If you want a gentle, effective cleanser that leaves your skin soft and balanced, you can make your own Squalane oil cleanser at home. This method is simple, affordable, and fully customisable. You’ll know exactly what’s in your bottle and avoid the unnecessary chemicals found in so many shop-bought cleansers.
Table of Contents
Why Use a Squalane Cleanser?
Squalane is a lightweight oil that hydrates and supports your skin barrier. It is suitable for every skin type, including sensitive and acne-prone skin. This blend dissolves makeup and sunscreen, cleanses without stripping, and leaves your skin feeling comfortable and nourished.
What You’ll Need
- Disinfectant alcohol (for sterilising equipment)
- Precision scales (from 0.5g up)
- Stainless steel or glass jug
- Stainless steel teaspoon
- 100ml bottle for storage
- Absorbent paper for cleaning surfaces
For a full equipment guide, see my post on DIY Skincare Tools and Equipment.
DIY Squalane Cleanser Recipe
Ingredients:
- 78g Camellia Seed Oil
- 12g Castor Oil
- 9g Olive Squalane
- 1g Petitgrain Essential Oil (optional, or add 1g extra Camellia for fragrance-free)
100g Total
You can skip the essential oil to have a fragrance-free version. Add an additional gram of Camellia Seed Oil instead.
Method:
- Ensure that all equipment and your workspace are thoroughly sterilised with alcohol.
- Weigh each ingredient and add them to your jug.
- Mix well until fully blended.
- Pour into your bottle and label with the date.
How to Use
Massage a small amount onto dry skin, especially over the eyes if you wear makeup. Take your time and let the oils break down dirt and product. Wipe away with a damp cloth or cotton pad. You can use this cleanser every day, morning and night.
Ingredients Spotlight
Camellia Seed Oil
A lightweight, silky oil packed with antioxidants and fatty acids. Camellia Seed Oil is great for keeping your skin healthy and smooth. It helps to lock in moisture and is very gentle, so it’s perfect for sensitive or older skin.
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Castor Oil
Known for its deep-cleansing abilities, Castor Oil dissolves dirt, excess oil, and makeup. It also has a thick, emollient texture that helps condition the skin and leaves it feeling clean but never stripped.
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Olive Squalane
This plant-based oil mimics your skin’s natural lipids, boosting hydration and supporting barrier function. Olive Squalane is non-greasy, fast-absorbing, and helps your cleanser glide smoothly over the skin.
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Petitgrain Essential Oil
Petitgrain adds a fresh, citrus-floral scent and has gentle, balancing properties for the skin. Skip it if you prefer a fragrance-free cleanser, or swap for another gentle essential oil you love.
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Other Ways to Use Squalane Cleansing Oil
- Condition beards and condition hair – A few drops of squalane oil smoothed through your beard or moustache keeps facial hair soft, conditioned, and manageable. It helps reduce itchiness, soothes the skin beneath, and adds a healthy, non-greasy shine. Ideal for daily use, especially if you suffer from dryness or beard dandruff.
- Use as a nourishing facial oil or serum by applying a few drops after cleansing – After cleansing, pat your skin dry and apply a few drops of squalane oil as a serum. It locks in moisture, balances oil production, and gives your skin a smooth, healthy glow. Suitable for all skin types, it works beautifully as a last step before your moisturiser or on its own for lightweight hydration.
- Remove makeup (including eye make-up) – Squalane cleansing oil is gentle enough to dissolve even stubborn makeup, including waterproof mascara and long-wear foundation. Massage a small amount over dry skin, taking extra care around the eyes, and let the oil break down makeup without any tugging or irritation. Wipe away with a damp cloth or cotton pad for clean, soothed skin.
- Treat hands after cleaning, gardening, or using hand sanitiser – Frequent washing and hand sanitiser can leave your skin dry, cracked, or sore. Massage squalane cleansing oil into your hands and cuticles after cleaning, gardening, or using sanitiser to restore lost moisture. It absorbs quickly, leaving your hands soft and protected without any greasy residue.
- Soothe baby skin and prevent nappy rash – Squalane cleansing oil is mild enough for a baby’s delicate skin. Use a few drops to clean and moisturise after nappy changes or to soothe dry patches. It helps prevent nappy rash and irritation, providing a natural barrier without harsh chemicals or fragrances.
Alternative Uses for Squalane Cleansing Oil
Squalane cleansing oil is not just for facial cleansing; its benefits extend beyond the face to any skin area. An all-over application followed by a warm shower or bath transforms into an opulent skin treatment.
I find it remarkably effective for cleaning hands, especially after mechanical work or a tyre change. And when it comes to infants, it’s gentle enough to manage even post-diaper messes without harshness. It also serves as a preventive measure against diaper rash with just a few drops rubbed in.
I suggest using it to protect your hands before gardening to keep them soft. It also works well to cleanse the skin after repotting garden plants.
Squalane Cleanser is exceptionally safe for sensitive skin. Post-shave application helps to calm any irritation, enhancing the skin’s condition. For those with facial hair, a little massaged into a beard or moustache conditions and smooths it out.
To enhance your skincare routine, try applying a few drops of the product on your face after cleansing. This will help nourish your skin like a facial serum.It works wonders for all skin types, including acne-prone complexions, as it’s non-comedogenic.
For hands damaged by excessive use of alcohol-based sanitisers, I recommend Squalane Cleanser as a restorative solution for revitalised skin.
Turn Squalane Cleanser into a Squalane Serum
If you want to switch things up and create a nourishing facial oil or serum instead of just a cleanser, you can easily adjust the blend. Castor oil is best for cleansing, but for a serum, you can change the Camellia oil or Castor oil for other oils with different benefits. Just keep the combined total of your chosen oils at 90g to maintain the balance with your Squalane.
For the cleansing function, Castor oil is the best product to use. However, you could change the Camellia Oil for different oils if you wanted to. They have differing benefits from Camellia Oil, but they will all be enhanced by the Squalane content. You could swap out the Camellia Seed oil and the Castor oil for any of these following oils – or even make a blend. Just be ensure the total amount of these different oils is 90g to keep the overall ratios the same.
Tamanu Oil (INCI: Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil)
This oil is great for treating eczema and reducing beard bumps from shaving. It is rich in Omega-9 essential fatty acids, and it sinks into your skin easily without feeling greasy at all. It improves the condition of flaky skin and is excellent on rough skin on knees and elbows. It softens dry and brittle hair and conditions your scalp without adding stickiness or weight to the hair shaft. It adds volume and shine to your hair and even helps to rescue split ends.
Tamanu oil can be infused with cannabis. The oil is heat stable, and it is a very specific, low heat that is used with the POT by NOIDS. A cannabis strain rich in CBD will release the CBD into the Tamanu oil. Once strained, you have got a superb product for eczema and psoriasis. I have used this base infusion on many clients because the CBD reduces so much of the inflammation.
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Rosehip Seed Oil (INCI: Rosa Canina Fruit Oil)
This is a very dry-feeling oil. Using it on its own can make your skin feel tight because it is so dry. It complements Castor oil well, which can feel too heavy and greasy on its own. Combining Squalane with other ingredients results in a facial oil or serum high in Linoleic Acid (Omega-6) and Linolenic Acid (Omega-3). It not only cleanses your face well, but also moisturises dry and damaged skin, while evening out the skin tone. Rosehip oil also contains a natural form of Vitamin A, which is a powerful antioxidant.
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Evening Primrose Oil (INCI: Oenothera Biennis Oil)
This lightweight oil gives a wonderful opportunity to get GLA (Gamma Linolenic Acid) into your skin. It’s a crucial component in natural skin care that helps your body heal and works where you put it – on your skin! It’s great for sensitive skin, and perfect for using with any kind of dermatitis, eczema or psoriasis. It works just as well on the scalp as well, and leaves your hair silky soft.
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Sweet Almond Oil (INCI: Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil)
Sweet Almond oil is often thought of as a simple carrier oil for massage. This facial oil is very nutritious, containing minerals, plant sterols, glucosides, and Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, and E. It’s great for all skin types, especially dry and ageing skin.
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Argan Oil (INCI: Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil)
Argan oil is well known in the hair care world for its ability to tame frizzy hair, condition it and give it an amazing shine. It does all that, and more, when blended with Squalane. It has amazing benefits for skin care as well as making your skin so soft. Dry skin or flakiness just vanishes, and it’s a great moisturiser. It sinks into the skin easily and will leave your skin so pampered, luxurious, and silky.
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Liquid Coconut Oil (INCI: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
Liquid Coconut Oil is solid coconut oil that has been steam-treated to remove unstable fatty acid chains. These are what cause rancidity and free-radical damage. Use fractionated coconut oil, also known as Liquid Coconut Oil, as it is less greasy than solid coconut oil. When mixed with Squalane, it becomes an excellent body oil. It won’t clog your pores and locks moisture into your skin, keeping it younger-looking and more flexible.
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Hazelnut Oil (INCI: Corylus Avellana Seed Oil)
This oil is superb to use if you have acne-prone skin. It might seem counterintuitive using an oil-based cleanser if you have acne, but Hazelnut Oil has the ability to make greasy skin behave more like normal skin. It will not clog your pores, and it works well with combination skin as well.
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Jojoba Oil (INCI: Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil)
Oil cleansing is a great way to unblock acne-damaged pores. Jojoba Oil has a chemical composition similar to the skin’s sebum. This allows it to act as a solvent and dissolve blackheads.
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Common Misunderstandings
I’ve noticed a series of common misconceptions surrounding skincare, and I’d like to set the record straight.
- Many believe that splurging on a cleanser is futile since it’s washed off, thinking it doesn’t properly cleanse. Truthfully, a high-quality cleanser like this Squalane Cleanser not only purifies but replenishes natural skin oils.
- A prevailing thought is that inexpensive cleansing products can damage the skin if not thoroughly rinsed. There are affordable cleansers that work well and are gentle, like this Squalane Cleanser. It can be used again after wiping it off and will act as a great Squalane Serum.
- It’s a misconception that premium Squalane is exclusive to highly marketed brands. The reality is advertising costs contribute to the price, not the quality of the product.
Conclusion
Squalane, based on olive oil, serves as a stable lipid that is particularly beneficial for our skin. Squalane strengthens the skin’s barrier function because our skin contains a similar substance called squalene. Balancing oil production enhances skin appearance, making it look softer and younger, regardless of being oily or dry.
As we get older, our body produces less squalene. Olive squalane is great, especially if you have mature skin. It really helps keep your skin feeling smooth and hydrated! This natural olive-derived form is very pure and versatile, unlike other options such as shark liver oil. Its compatibility extends across all skin types and is even gentle on sensitive skin. Also, this compound’s strong antioxidant properties help reduce dark spots and promote an even skin tone.
FAQ
What is a squalane cleanser?
A squalane cleanser is a gentle face wash that uses squalane, a lightweight, non-comedogenic oil derived from olives or sugarcane. It dissolves makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil without stripping or drying the skin.
What are the benefits of using a squalane cleanser?
Squalane cleansers are suitable for all skin types, especially sensitive and dry skin. They effectively remove dirt and makeup, hydrate the skin, and help maintain a healthy skin barrier.
Is squalane cleanser good for acne-prone skin?
Yes, squalane is non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores. It gently cleanses without irritation, making it suitable for acne-prone and sensitive skin.
How do I make a DIY squalane cleanser at home?
To make a DIY squalane cleanser, follow the formulation on this post. The method is easy and doesn’t require heating.
Can I use squalane cleanser every day?
Yes, squalane cleanser is gentle enough for daily use, both morning and night, as part of your skincare routine.
How do I use a squalane cleanser?
Apply a small amount of squalane cleanser to dry skin and gently massage to dissolve makeup and impurities. Wipe off with damp cotton pads or a cloth.
Is homemade squalane cleanser safe for sensitive skin?
Yes, the homemade squalane cleanser recipe is formulated to be gentle and non-irritating, making it suitable for sensitive skin types.
What ingredients do I need for a DIY squalane cleanser?
The main ingredients are Olive Squalane, Camellia Seed oil, and Castor Oil, with optional essential oil. The blog post includes the complete ingredient list and measurements, which you can customise to your liking.
Does squalane cleanser remove sunscreen and make-up?
Yes, squalane cleansers are effective at removing sunscreen, makeup, and daily impurities without leaving the skin feeling tight or dry.
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