Everything to Know About Squalane, the Skincare Ingredient You Keep Hearing About
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Today is the first-ever International Squalane Day, a holiday created by Biossance to raise global awareness about the buzzy skincare ingredient. Read on below to learn everything there is to know about squalane, plus check out exclusive Squalane Day deals on our favorite skin-transforming products over on Biossance's site.
In the world of skincare ingredients, squalane has quickly gone from under-the-radar to everywhere. It’s celebrated for its healing, moisturizing magic, and it’s referenced in clean beauty conversations. But what, exactly, is squalane? And what do you need to know to best utilize its hydrating potential on your own skin, hair, and body? We speak to key experts—from biochemists and international ingredient specialists to dermatologists and aestheticians—to get the lowdown on the latest skincare hero. Here’s what you need to know about this white-hot ingredient.
What Is Squalane?
To truly understand squalane means to first understand squalene—with an E. Squalene is a molecule we are born with in abundance, but like the hyaluronic acid molecule, squalene amounts decrease as we age. It is a main component in sebum, the oily, waxy substance produced by the body’s sebaceous glands that moisturizes and protects our skin. Sebum is essential to protecting the skin barrier, helps to prevent water loss, and can also provide anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant benefits.
“It is kind of like baby’s first moisturizer,” explains Mimi Lu, the scientist behind Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s clean beauty brand, Rose Inc, which uses squalane in every product, from its pomegranate-infused exfoliating cleanser to the full range of makeup. “We see the benefits of squalene from birth all the way to as you get older,” Lu says. That being said, “Of course, like with other things, squalene starts to diminish [with age].”
This face oil is, frankly, heaven. Merging aromatherapy with vitamin C; omegas 3, 6, and 9; and, yes, squalane, the oil gently seals in moisturizer and serum without clogging pores, leaving a noticeable afterglow.
Enter squalane—with an A. Squalane is a more stable version of this natural emollient. It is biomimetic, meaning it mimics the function of a natural substance (in this case, sebum). “If you think about emollients in moisturizers, it’s probably one of the best ones you can use for skincare, because skin already recognizes it and knows what it does,” says Ramya Viswanathan, a lead chemist at Amyris, the biotechnology and renewable cosmetics company behind brands including Biossance, JVN, and Rose Inc. “It’s really replenishing and feeding what the skin might be missing.”
While squalane is currently enjoying a moment in the spotlight, it’s even more popular than you may have realized. "Squalane is widely used across hundreds of brands," Viswanathan says. However, they are now bringing more attention to it in their formulas as customers have become more aware its benefits. “No one was calling it out before, but a lot of brands do use it just because it feels so amazing and it’s very beneficial for the skin,” Viswanathan adds.
Where Does Squalane Come From?
Squalene and squalane can be developed in several ways. Historically, squalene was derived from the livers of sharks. (Yes, really.) Sharks are unique in that they naturally have extra fat in their livers to maintain buoyancy in deep waters. The main ingredient in shark liver oil? Squalene. Currently, approximately six million sharks are killed annually for their livers, with around 3,000 sharks required to make one ton of squalene. This method has biodiversity consequences and obvious ethical concerns.
This CBD + adaptogens oil, also infused with squalane, is lightweight and perfect for dry, stressed-out skin. It also comes in a fun Mary Jane–inspired shade, with a scent to match.
Luckily, there are other, plant-based ways to produce squalane. Amyris, for instance, develops their vegan squalane from sugarcane fermentation in Brazil, grown far from the Amazon rainforest so there is no deforestation. This substitution saves the lives of two million sharks a year. Not to mention, the ingredient is just as effective. “It’s a molecular match to the moisture in our own skin, and absorbs 10 times faster than other plant-derived oils, and pairs well with other ingredients,” says Catherine Gore, president of Biossance (and previously the brain behind Marc Jacobs Beauty) of the group’s sugarcane-grounded biotechnology. “It’s the perfect vehicle to use in formulating, because it actually helps other ingredients perform better and penetrate more deeply into the skin.”
Sugarcane-derived squalane is a particularly stable form of plant squalane. It can also be sourced from olive oil, amaranth seeds, rice bran, wheat germ, date palm, and even some fungi.
To ensure ethical sourcing, look for a label that specifies 100 percent plant-derived squalane. It’s also worth noting that some methods of plant-based production are more sustainable than others, with crop yields, labor practices, water irrigation, location, and other elements coming into play.
You can also check a brand’s certification status; Amyris, for one, is Bonsucro certified, meaning its sugarcane production has met global sustainability standards. Others, like Dr. Barbara Sturm and luxury Azores skincare line Ignae, are certified by Positive Luxury, an independent organization that verifies companies adhere to sustainable social, environmental, and innovation practices.
What Are the Benefits of Squalane?
As mentioned, squalane mimics the chemical structure of the body’s own squalene and has a host of benefits. The most prominent being moisturization, but it also soothes, calms, and protects the skin barrier. “It’s so good for the skin, no matter how compromised the skin barrier is or the type of skin cell,” explains Miguel Borges Pombo, the founder of Ignae, an Azores Islands–based clean skincare line with its own biotechnology, and an international ingredient expert.
Because of its hydrating properties, it’s a star for drier skin. But it’s also lightweight and nongreasy in texture, making it a great option for oily or acne-prone skin too. “It’s almost skin-type immune, so it’s great for younger people, it’s great for older people, regardless of if your skin is drier or more moisturized,” Borges Pombo explains. It can also help soothe conditions like eczema and psoriasis, calm skin after sun exposure, and even tame frizz.
This oil pairs brightening vitamin C with soothing Damascus rose and Biossance’s sugarcane-derived squalane. “It penetrates into skin deeper than other carrier oils would, so you don’t have to overuse certain ingredients,” Viswanathan says.
Licensed aesthetician Morgan Rackley, owner of Luminous Skin Atlanta, puts it best, “Those with a dry (lack of oil) skin type can definitely benefit from using squalane in their regimen, as it mimics oil naturally found in your skin. But it also helps those that are oily, as squalane tricks your skin into producing less oil, as you’ve already applied some topically, so it doesn’t need to produce as much,” she says, adding, “I personally love using squalane on my clients that have dry, patchy, and inflamed skin, as it helps repair the skin’s natural barrier.”
So, are there any side effects or risks when using squalane? “It’s not a miracle cure for dry skin,” notes Geeta Yadav, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Skin Science Dermatology in Toronto. “People with severely dry skin will need more than just squalane for deep moisture barrier repair.”
It’s also worth doing a patch test before full use if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin. “Other than that,” Rackley says, “everyone can benefit from using squalane!”
What Are the Best Squalane Products?
Now for the fun part. Squalane mixes well with a variety of hero ingredients, enhancing their properties and helping them retain moisture and last longer. You can find it in hair products (Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness taps into the emollient for their haircare line, JVN), all types of skincare, and, most recently, makeup. For a product like mascara, it can be a lifesaver: “Add a little bit of squalane into a mascara tube and shake it up, and it helps refresh it, especially when it dries out,” Viswanathan advises.
Though it’s specially formulated for skin of color, this moisturizer is beautiful for all skin types. It particularly addresses melasma and dark spots, while working to repair the skin barrier with snow mushroom, peptides, ceramides, and squalane.
Squalane is one ingredient that is hard to overuse. “I use squalane every day for my family,” Gore says. “We use it daily as face and body hydration, for cracked skin, as a bath oil, shower oil, hair serum, and the list goes on.”
Our Favorite Squalane Products
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