Is The Ordinary Squalane + Amino Acids Lip Balm worth it?

The gurus are split. 4 of the 8 gurus give it their stamp of approval while 3 would skip it, which lands it in the middle at a Guru Score of 62%.

What is The Ordinary Squalane + Amino Acids Lip Balm's Guru Score?

The Ordinary Squalane + Amino Acids Lip Balm holds a Guru Score of 62%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 8 expert reviewers we have collected.

The Ordinary

The Ordinary Squalane + Amino Acids Lip Balm.

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Lip

About this product

A lip balm formulated with squalane and amino acids designed to hydrate and nourish lips, with a twist-tube applicator.

Full ingredients

Squalane, Sorbitan Olivate, Aqua (Water), Trihydroxystearin, Betaine, Jojoba Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax, Sodium PCA, Pca, Serine, Alanine, Arginine, Proline, Glycine, Glutamic Acid, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Sodium Lactate, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Polyglycerin-3, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Tocopherol, Calcium Gluconate, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate

Guru Score

62%

Mixed

8 experts · Strong agreement

What the gurus are saying

This balm splits gurus sharply: some find it a lightweight, serum-like hydrator that plumps and moisturizes without greasiness, while others say it goes on thick, dries lips out, or even irritates them. Those who love it praise the squalane and amino acids for sustained moisture without constant reapplication; those who don't like it report it feels pasty or waxy on the lips. Patch-test first if your lips are sensitive or prone to irritation.

Synthesized from 8 expert reviews · most recent take October 2026

What they liked

Lightweight, serum-like texture
Non-greasy, non-sticky finish
Affordable price

What they flagged

Thick, paste-like consistency on application
Stinging and lip irritation in some
Tight cap difficult to remove initially

Type

LipBalm & ointment

Key actives

Vitamin ESqualane

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Sephora → Ulta → Amazon → Google →

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Mad About Skin

731k subs

~Yay

"The Ordinary's squalane and amino acids lip balm is really inexpensive and has a great blend of ingredients that aren't going to do any harm to the lips but will help promote lip health in the long term. It's a really nice option. The thing I would say about this is I don't like the packaging. The packaging can be quite hard. If you have any limitations in terms of motor function or strength in your hands, it can be difficult to get the product."

All 8 takes from Mad About Skin

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"The Ordinary has squalane which is beautifully nourishing and hydrating, and amino acids which should go into the lips and hydrate from within. They also have some studies that do show that amino acids can be a little bit plumping on the lips too. [...] This just works wonderful. [...] It's got a nice applicator which I really like, easy access and easy application, and [...] it just leaves behind really nice light but meaningful hydration to the lips."

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"The Ordinary have their Squalane lip balm which is one of their best sellers and I know a lot of people are reaching for it in the colder winter months now. Whilst [...] it's never been my favorite product from them, I find it a little bit greasy and there are lots of great lip balms out there."

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"This actually goes on quite creamy, it has quite a creamy consistency and I'd say it takes a little time to sink in. [...] I love this because it doesn't break me out. Sometimes I can get blackheads and breakouts around the Vermillion border if I'm not careful, and I don't get that with this, which I love. It's a great little multitasking balm that I absolutely love."

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"I used The Ordinary lip balm which is great. I'd fully recommend The Ordinary one. I think it's cheap, it's affordable, it does the job which I love. When you use it with a lip exfoliator, you massage it in and sleep on it, and when you wake up you get the smoothest lips and a lot less irritation and dryness that you would otherwise get. [...] Just go for an unscented, unflavored lip balm because you don't want to be triggering any potential sensitivity when you're using an exfoliator."

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"For a very minimal expense, because this is actually one of the more affordable lip balms on the market, you put this on and literally within about one or two minutes you'll see a return to an increase in volume in the lips and definitely a more healthy, hydrated appearance. The results of this are cumulative too, so if you use it every single day in your skincare routine, over time you'll definitely see that volume build."

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"One of my absolute favorites has to be their new lip balm which I'm using and loving. [...] Super affordable, really well formulated."

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"This goes on quite glossy in terms of its appearance, but that does dry down after about a minute. [...] The gloss tends to disappear as you work it in. [...] If you're someone that likes a real matte lip balm, this probably isn't going to be for you because there's always that little touch of dewiness and gloss to the lips. But if you're someone that likes that, then this is going to be a holy grail for sure."

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No BS Beauty

89k subs

~Nay

"I didn't love the Ordinary lip balm they came out with. [...] I had it on my nightstand for a while, but it wasn't my favorite. [...] The Ordinary lip balm felt more like a paste to me than it did like a gloss or a gel. I just didn't like it."

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"The Ordinary's released dozens of new products, this lip balm. I don't know who likes it. It feels gross."

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"The Ordinary came out with a lip balm so I had to pick that one up and try it when it came to Ulta and so far I like it. The only challenge with this one is getting the cap off of it, it's hard to do especially the first few times, but then after that it's not too hard. [...] It's not quite as thick as some but it feels nice, it's not as shiny as some other ones but it feels nice on the skin."

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"I hate their lip balm from The Ordinary. It just doesn't do it for me. I'm trying to hate pan finish it, but I'm not getting there yet."

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"I didn't love their new lip balm that came out this year, the Squalane and Amino Acids. It's thick, it doesn't really feel like it's absorbing. It feels more like a mask. I didn't love it."

HotandFlashy

1.23M subs

~Nay

"I love the packaging. It is so adorable, and I thought it was going to be like the most hydrating, the most nourishing lip balm. Oh boy. It is just not. Sadly, there just wasn't much that I liked about this. Putting it on, it just goes on like so thick and weird on the lips. I just didn't enjoy it. I didn't feel like it gave me any kind of hydration. I felt like it actually dried out my lips by the time it was off. My lips were so dry and I was running for my regular lip hydrator."

Robert Welsh

1.11M subs

~Yay

"The Squalane + Amino Acids Lip Balm though, is incredible. I love this product. Like, I would re-buy that again."

Sincerely Miss Ash

195k subs

~Yay

"The Ordinary Squalane + Amino Acids Lip Balm is very moisturizing, great to repair dry lips and also great to prevent dryness. It really gives that nice plump to the lips and I really like it. I use this all the time, I use this before bed sometimes and it's wonderful. You just spin off the top and squeeze the little tube and apply it."

All 5 takes from Sincerely Miss Ash

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"This is really beautiful for the lips. It really keeps the lips nice and comfortable and it's not greasy, it's not sticky. My hair never sticks to my lips. So the formulation really is like a nice balm. It feels very silky when it's on your lips as well, and it's absolutely beautiful."

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"I've really been enjoying the new Ordinary Squalane + Amino Acids Lip Balm. I really love this. I love squalane because it's super hydrating, but amino acids is also very hydrating as well, and this prevents transepidermal water loss, so this doesn't give you the urge to reapply all the time just to keep your lips nice and moisturized and comfortable. Honestly, you could just use this once or twice a day and that is it and your lips feel amazing."

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"You can pair this on top of a lipstick, pair this on top of a lip liner or just wear it on its own. I do hope they come out with a SPF version next that would be really nice. [...] First thing in the morning I do like to put something that is moisturizing like this on my lips prior to going out and this is one of my new favorites."

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"There's no fragrance, there's no harsh ingredients in here that would make you have to reapply this all the time as that lip balm addiction. This really repairs and heals your lips really quickly but then for maintenance it just keeps your lips nice and moisturized. There's also a little bit of a plumping effect with this as well and there's no sensation or ingredient in here that plumps up the lips per se but the squalane and the amino acids naturally give that fullness to the lips."

Gothamista

683k subs

~Yay

"I absolutely love this one from The Ordinary, the Squalane and Amino Acids Lip Balm. It's nourishing, it's glossy, it's light. It feels a bit like a hydrating serum as well as a lip balm. I love the texture and if we're being honest I love the packaging maybe even more."

All 2 takes from Gothamista

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"My main attraction to this is its packaging, but it's actually a great lip balm as well. It's not a heavy sleeping mask lip balm, it's almost like a serum. This does feel instantly hydrating, as though it kind of plumps the skin of your lips, which is a different sensation that I get from very buttery or waxy lip balms. This feels like a proper nourishing lip serum. When things are a lot drier and inevitably my lips are peeling and flaking, I may use this and put a lip mask over it."

Dr. Vanita Rattan

1.23M subs

~Mixed

"I like it for your cuticles if you want something a little bit less greasy as you go around touching things"

James Welsh

1.58M subs

~Nay

"I didn't like this. I actually think this irritated my lips. [...] My lips just stung with this. They start to crack all up here. And when I use this, [...] throughout the day I was having to like remove soft, dead skin from my lips because it did that to my skin throughout the day."