May not fully remove water-resistant sunscreen alone
What the gurus are saying
This cleanser transforms from a rich cream to a gel-like texture when water is added, and gurus praise it for removing waterproof makeup and multiple layers of sunscreen without stripping or leaving residue behind. The glycolipids and phytic acid make it exceptionally gentle, earning particular favour from those with dry, sensitive, or barrier-compromised skin, as well as anyone using active ingredients like tretinoin; however, dermatologists note it may need an oil cleanser as a first step for very stubborn water-resistant sunscreen. It works on all skin types without leaving film or greasiness.
Synthesized from 6 expert reviews · most recent take May 2026
"This is the Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser. Super inexpensive, really nice in terms of getting the job done, but not stripping and drying. And this is something I'd really encourage everyone to take a look at. Go for something like this that actually adds hydration back into the skin. You'll see such great results and it's super inexpensive. This is a universal, super affordable, and budget friendly cleanser that I honestly recommend to everyone. Just a great place to start your routine."
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"This is the Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser. Super inexpensive, really nice in terms of getting the job done, but not stripping and drying. And this is something I'd really encourage everyone to take a look at. Go for something like this that actually adds hydration back into the skin. You'll see such great results and it's super inexpensive. This is a universal, super affordable, and budget friendly cleanser that I honestly recommend to everyone. Just a great place to start your routine."
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"The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser is one of my favorite products from the ordinary and this is beautiful, it melts into the skin, it gets rid of waterproof makeup and SPF. It's an amazing one-stop shop, this is all you need for an effective evening cleanse. I use this every other day usually as my cleanser of choice and my skin just loves it."
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"The Glycolipid Cream Cleanser is beautiful if you're looking for a nice hydrating cleanse in those cooler winter months. This doesn't strip it doesn't dry and it does genuinely remove multiple layers of water resistant SPF makeup, anything that's on the skin this will get rid of it. It's kind of like a double cleanse on its own but of course you can then use it with a cleansing balm too if you want like an extra robust cleanse. It's beautiful, it's affordable, it's just a nice all round cleanser. It's not groundbreaking, it's not changing the skincare world but it is going to be a part of your skincare routine that will definitely help over time build the results that you're going to see. I love it, it's my favorite of the cleansers from the ordinary. [...] This is just something a little bit different we don't see a lot of in the market in terms of how rich and how hydrating it is."
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"This is the ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser. It's [...] a beautiful option that has a similar texture to other cream cleansers, velvety and creamy, and then when you apply water, it turns into a gel cleanser and rinses away. I think this is going to supercharge the cream cleanser game. When The Ordinary create a product, a lot of other brands follow. And so, expect to see a lot of other brands come out with their cream cleansers in the next 12 months. [...] It's probably my favorite style of cleanser."
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"The Glycolipid Cream Cleanser is a great option if you've got a drier skin type. It's really hydrating but almost works like a double cleanse in one. It'll shift water resistant SPF, waterproof makeup, but it doesn't leave a trace or film on the skin. So if you're too lazy to double cleanse, just reach for this and it does it all in one. I love it."
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"I love this because it's gentle on the skin, it's slightly hydrating. A lot of brands will call their cleansers hydrating, but don't forget because you're actually working it in and removing it with water, all cleansers are going to be to some degree a little drying on the skin, but I'd say this keeps drying us to an absolute minimum. It doesn't irritate the skin and it really does pack a punch when it comes to cleansing. If you're the sort of person that doesn't really want to do a double cleanse, [...] just get this because it will remove stubborn waterproof makeup, multiple layers of water resistant SPF. It doesn't irritate, gets the job done. I really really enjoy it."
"Everybody knows I love the glycolipid cleanser. This was probably my absolute favorite high street cream cleanser of last year. It's beautiful, it's creamy, it basically melts away all your makeup. It respects your barrier function. I personally use it with a microfiber cloth, it gets rid of every scrap of makeup, and then I rinse it away at night. It leaves your barrier intact but cleanses your skin super gently."
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"Everybody knows I love the glycolipid cleanser. This was probably my absolute favorite high street cream cleanser of last year. It's beautiful, it's creamy, it basically melts away all your makeup. It respects your barrier function. I personally use it with a microfiber cloth, it gets rid of every scrap of makeup, and then I rinse it away at night. It leaves your barrier intact but cleanses your skin super gently."
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"The cleanser of the year was The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream. I absolutely love it, super cheap. It's basically just a really gorgeous cream cleanser, rinse off, perfect. That's why I love this. It turns to milk when you add water."
"It uses glycolipids so this is applied on your dry skin just like an oil or balm cleanser. The [...] texture is not a cream texture, it's an emulsion that's sort of gelish, but it has a really nice slip to it while you're applying it on your skin. It doesn't really emulsify in the way that I'm used to, I don't see it turning milky, but it still rinses off clean. For this reason I prefer this to the squalane cleanser, which does not quite rinse off clean and leaves a residue on the skin. This removes all my sunscreen and makeup. It's a great first cleanser if you have normal to oily skin or if you just don't prefer or enjoy an oil-based first cleanser."
"The Glycolipid Cream Cleanser has glycolipids which are helpful for the moisture barrier and phytic acid which is an antioxidant that also can mildly exfoliate the skin. This is a cream cleanser that you can apply to dry or damp skin and I have to tell you guys I have been rather impressed with the performance of this. If you have very sensitive irritated skin, or maybe you're using Accutane and you want the mildest gentlest products, this is a very very very mild gentle creamy soothing frankly cleanser that actually does a good job removing cosmetics. It may not be the best at removing water resistant sunscreen you may need to use an oil cleanser first but I was able to get mascara that is not waterproof, eye shadow, non-water resistant sunscreen off with just this applying it all over to a dry face and then when I get in the shower rinsing it off with no additional cleanser. [...] It's fragrance free and has kind of a coconutty aroma to it. It kind of reminds me almost like a more liquid version of a cold cream. Twelve dollars and fifty cents for the 150 ml."
"I would recommend the Glycolipid Cream Cleanser. This is by far my favorite because it's gentle, it's moisturizing, it doesn't strip your skin barrier, it's also calming, and it's great for all skin types, even those that are oily. If you have dry skin, you will absolutely love this. I was actually using this in the summer last year. It never caused breakouts because it doesn't leave a film on your skin after you've rinsed it off. It really is the most gentle moisturizing cleanser that I have used in a long time now. This one is absolutely wonderful."
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"I would recommend the Glycolipid Cream Cleanser. This is by far my favorite because it's gentle, it's moisturizing, it doesn't strip your skin barrier, it's also calming, and it's great for all skin types, even those that are oily. If you have dry skin, you will absolutely love this. I was actually using this in the summer last year. It never caused breakouts because it doesn't leave a film on your skin after you've rinsed it off. It really is the most gentle moisturizing cleanser that I have used in a long time now. This one is absolutely wonderful."
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"The cleanser I would use as a second cleanse is The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser. I like this formulation a lot because it's gentle, it's moisturizing, it keeps your skin balanced, but also it's non-stripping, and it's perfect for all skin types. If you want to use this to remove makeup and sunscreen as a first cleanse, you can do so, and then go in again with this as a second cleanse to ensure your skin is clean and free from residue. But I like this especially when I'm using active ingredients because it's so gentle and it keeps my skin feeling like my skin, and it's a perfect formulation for when you're using a retinol. Out of all of them, this is by far my favorite."
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"The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser is by far my favorite formulation out of the three that they carry. It's a very moisturizing formula that doesn't leave a film on your skin. It's very lightweight in my opinion, perfect for all skin types. I love using this every day, twice a day. I did pick up another one for sure. I keep it in my shower, and they nailed it with this formula. It is truly on point."
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"The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser is exceptional for the winter months, great if you have dry skin, sensitive skin, but even if you have oily combo skin you're going to love it because this is really lightweight. It doesn't create that heaviness to the skin, it doesn't leave a film after you've rinsed it off, and it just does a wonderful job to cleanse that skin, especially when you want something that isn't stripping. This is hands down one of the best I have ever used. If I get this into my eyes, which can happen right because you're cleansing your eyelashes and everything, this never burns my eyes ever. So a lot of cleansers will do that, this one does not."
"This is one of my favorite cleansers of all time, but especially from The Ordinary because it's very moisturizing and it's also non-stripping. If you have dry sensitive skin you're going to love this, but honestly this is great for all skin types. I have combination skin and even when my skin was at its oiliest this did an excellent job. It doesn't leave a film on your skin after you rinse it off and it also doesn't leave your skin feeling tight. It just keeps your skin nice and balanced and comfortable, and of course it's something that you can use everyday twice a day."
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"The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser is wonderful. [...] I was using this all summer in my shower and it just cleanses your skin so nicely. It is super gentle, it has that nice creaminess, and it's non-stripping. It's also fragrance-free. I especially love this cleanser for the fall and winter months because of how gentle and moisturizing it is. You can also use this to remove your makeup and sunscreen at the end of the day as that first cleanse and then go in again with a second cleanse just to ensure your skin is really clean. [...] This is [...] really nice cleanser especially if you have dry skin, you have sensitive skin, if you're oily or your combination skin like myself. This is still a great cleanser to use. It's really affordable."
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"I went in with The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser and this is fabulous for those that have dry skin. It's a great cleanser that is super gentle, it's non-stripping, it's perfect for all skin types and it's creamy. It doesn't leave a film on the skin and it does lather up quite nicely on the skin as well. It just cleanses so beautifully. So if you want something for every day twice a day, this really is lovely."
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"This is one of my favorite cleansers as of late because it's very creamy, it's moisturizing, it's also very gentle, perfect for all skin types including dry skin, but this doesn't strip the skin either. It really is that nice formula that cleanses nice and I love this for the morning but I also really like using this at night time as well as this acts as a makeup and sunscreen remover. When you emulsify this with water you do get more of that lather which is really nice but again super gentle. It doesn't leave a film on the skin either, which is another bonus that I love."
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"I'm almost done this one and this one is really lovely. I would say this one is more for those that have drier skin, your skin feels tight, even combination skin. It's another cleanser that was designed for all skin types, but we do have our favorite textures and formulations when we have a specific skin type. For me in the winter I would resort to a cream cleanser more so than a foaming cleanser, and in the summer I would usually go with a foaming cleanser versus a cream cleanser. This cleanser here is one that I like to use quite a bit, especially when my skin is drier or has flakiness, maybe because I'm using a lot of active ingredients that are irritating my skin. Then I always go with a cream cleanser. If it gets in your eyes, it doesn't burn your eyes, so it's very safe to use around the eye area. And you could use this as your makeup remover or to remove your sunscreen at nighttime. I have done this a few times and it does work pretty decently."
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"The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser is one of my favorite cleansers because it's creamy, it's moisturizing, it's nourishing and it doesn't strip your skin barrier. Great for all skin types including sensitive skin. I have combination skin and this never breaks me out and I am somebody who is very breakout prone. This is absolutely exceptional. You can use this to remove your makeup and sunscreen if you really wanted to, so if you wanted to eliminate a cleansing balm or a cleansing oil you could use this instead just to loosen everything off. If you like something that's creamy, this is a must try."
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"This is one of their newest cleansers that they came out with early this year and this is going to be perfect for the colder months as it's extremely moisturizing. It's very gentle, it doesn't strip the skin, perfect for those that have dry sensitive skin, but this is great for all skin types including oily acne prone skin. I have combination skin, I can be acne prone, this doesn't break me out and this cleanses really nicely. You can use it every day twice a day. You can use this as your first cleanse to remove your makeup and sunscreen and then of course go in with a second cleanse with this afterwards just to ensure that your skin is super clean before you go in with the rest of your skincare routine. I really love this formulation and sometimes with cleansers we can accidentally get them in our eyes, this doesn't burn my eyes either. So again great for those that have sensitivities. I really like it, I use it all the time."
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"I love this formulation because it's very moisturizing, it doesn't strip the skin, and it also doesn't leave a residue left behind either. It's truly great for all skin types including oily skin, but if you do have dry skin and you're looking for that moisturizing cleanser for the winter months, I think you are going to really enjoy this. This has been my go-to since November."
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"The Glycolipid Cream Cleanser is another formula that is perfect for all skin types. I have combination skin, sometimes my skin can be oily, but even when I'm using a creamy cleanser, something that is richer and more moisturizing, my skin doesn't feel greasy. I don't have a film left over once I've rinsed this off, and it keeps my skin barrier nice and comfortable, well moisturized. This is something that I like to use in my morning routine, but I also really enjoy using this at night time as well. It's a cleanser that you can use every day, twice a day, and it really is super gentle. If you're someone that has dry skin or you're using a lot of active ingredients like retinol, or maybe you're using a glycolic or lactic acid, something that can be a little bit drying on the skin, using a creamy cleanser can really help to keep that skin barrier comfortable. I use tretinoin a lot and sometimes I use lactic acid, so I do like to use that richer formulation because it just feels so nice when your skin is dry and flaky. [...] This really is great if you're looking for that richer formula, [...] and it also does a fabulous job removing makeup and eyeliner, mascara, and lip stains as a first cleanse."
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"I like this one a lot more because it's very gentle, it's very moisturizing on the skin, it's not stripping in the least, and this one doesn't leave a film behind after you've rinsed your skin."
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"The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser would be another great option for the summer. This does have a creaminess to it but it's very lightweight, it's not heavy and it doesn't leave a film on the skin either, so perfect for all skin types. I really like to use this if my skin is feeling a little tight and a little dry. I was using this all winter long but because it's so lightweight, this is going to be great for the summer. So I like to use this in the morning or as that second cleanse at night time. This doesn't lather and foam up like other cleansers, so if you do love that foam and that lather this wouldn't be it, but if you're just looking for that gentle cleanse then this is perfect. It's fragrance free, it's affordable and it's also very moisturizing on the skin as well."
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"I love The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser. In the winter months, I use creamy cleansers because I feel like these are more gentle on the skin this time of year and it just gives you moisture. This cleanser doesn't lather up too much, so that is a good thing in the winter because of course we're not getting that stripping effect with our skin. So this keeps our skin at that normal pH level. So when you rinse this off, your skin doesn't feel tight, doesn't feel stripped, you don't have this residue left on your skin either, but your skin does feel quite moisturized. And sometimes when my skin is super dry after I've cleansed my skin with this, I will go back in with this cleanser and put a good amount all over my face and I will just let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes and then I rinse off with cool water and I go in with my skincare after. And even by doing that, it gives my skin that nice moisture and it preps my skin for my skincare, so it really is a great one for all skin types, including combination and oily skin. I have combination skin and my skin loves this. I was using this even during the summer months and I still enjoyed it. And also, this is a product that is very gentle. So if you accidentally get this into your eyes, from my experience with this, I never had burning eyes, so it really is a lovely one for everyday, twice a day. And again, it doesn't lather up too much, so you will never have that stripped barrier when you're using this."
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"The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser is exceptional for dry skin but honestly it's perfect for all skin types. It's very gentle, it cleanses the skin really nicely, and there's no film that's left over either. You can use this both morning and evening. You can remove your makeup and sunscreen with this at night time if you wish to, and this is going to be great for the winter months as well. This is a new formula that they came out with this year and I'm very impressed with it."
What the evidence says.
Independent of what the gurus think, this is what
the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.
Frequently asked.
What is The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser?
A cream cleanser formulated with glycolipids and phytic acid, designed to remove makeup and sunscreen while maintaining the skin's moisture barrier.
Is The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser worth it?
Mostly yes. 5 of the 6 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 80%.
What is The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser's Guru Score?
The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser holds a Guru Score of 80%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 6 expert reviewers we have collected.
Who is The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser best for?
The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser is generally suited to dry skin and sensitive skin.
Cheaper alternatives the gurus rate.
Lower-priced products in the same category that the experts still rate highly.