What is Squalane: Everything You Need to Know
Despite being one of the most effective moisturizing ingredients in skincare products, squalane has, for the most part, stayed under the collective radar of many skincare fans. It’s not often as talked-about as other A-list staples, and it wasn’t until the skincare world began embracing clean and natural beauty that squalane finally gained the attention it deserved. So, what is squalane, and why is it a must-have ingredient in your skincare routine? Below, we turn the spotlight on this game-changing and multitasking ingredient and break down all the wonders it does for your skin.
Table of Contents:
- What is Squalane?
- What are the Benefits of Squalane for Your Skin?
- What are the Potential Side Effects of Squalane?
- How to Use Squalane
- Squalane vs Squalene
- Squalane vs Hyaluronic Acid
- Shop the Best Products with Squalane
- The Bottom Line
What is Squalane?
You may have come across both squalene and squalane while reading up about skincare, but they are, in fact, not the same. (Yes, the “a” and “e” make all the difference—we’ll get into more of this later.) Squalene with an “e” is a lipid naturally produced by skin cells to lubricate the skin and protect its natural barrier. It’s also found in many plants and animals, including shark’s liver, olives, sugarcane, and rice bran.
Squalane, on the other hand, is the hydrogenated form of squalene. Converting squalene, an unsaturated oil, to saturated squalane oil stabilizes the molecule and extends its shelf life, making it a more viable and efficacious skincare ingredient that delivers the same benefits as squalene.
What are the Benefits of Squalane for Your Skin?
As an emollient, squalane oil mimics the skin’s natural oil squalene, making it a lot easier for your skin to know exactly what to do with the ingredient and maximize its properties. Unlike other oils, squalane is light, non-greasy, and works for all skin types. Among the top benefits of squalane for your skin are:
Regulates oil production: Squalane mirrors the benefits of squalene, which includes controlling the amount of oil secreted by the skin’s sebaceous glands. This makes squalane ideal for those with oily, acne-prone, and sensitive skin, especially since the oil is known for being lightweight and non-comedogenic. Moisturizes dry skin: Possessing powerful emollient properties, squalane is the perfect ingredient for those with parched, dehydrated, and mature skin. Prevents trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL): Not only does squalane add a dose of moisture to dry skin, it also helps prevent water from escaping your skin by creating a layer that locks in hydration. Soothes irritation and inflammation: Squalane’s nourishing benefits help in calming redness, sunburn, and inflammatory skin conditions like eczema, acne, rosacea, and psoriasis. Strengthens skin barrier: Squalane’s emollient properties reinforce and help restore the skin’s natural skin barrier, preventing water loss, blocking external irritants, and keeping things balanced especially during drier and colder months. Acts as an antioxidant: Several studies support squalane’s antioxidant activity, and it has been found to help protect the skin from free radical damage caused by pollution, UV exposure, and other external aggressors.
What are the Potential Side Effects of Squalane?
While squalane is deemed safe for all skin types, there is no 100 percent guarantee that it won’t cause unwanted side effects for everyone. Although quite uncommon, signs of irritation or allergy from squalane may include itching, swelling, or redness. To be on the safe side, it’s always best to do a patch test before fully incorporating squalane or any skincare ingredient in your routine.
How to Use Squalane
Squalane is great for all skin types and should be added to both your AM and PM routines daily—either as an oil serum or as a key ingredient in your moisturizer—to get your desired results. Because squalane is fat-soluble and mimics your skin’s natural oil, it can penetrate deeper into the skin's layers and deliver its transformative benefits at the cellular level.
To add squalane to your daily skin regimen, make sure to apply the oil after cleansing and after all water-based products to ensure proper absorption. Then, follow it up with your moisturizer to help the oil sink into the skin and lock in hydration, and finish off with SPF during the day.
As an active ingredient, squalane also plays well with other workhorse ingredients. If you have sensitive skin or are new to using potent ingredients like retinol, you can use squalane before applying retinol to reduce irritation. The combo works so well together that they’re often used in the same formula.
However, it’s important to note that some beauty connoisseurs tend to feel iffy about the use of squalane in skincare and cosmetics because the ingredient was mostly sourced from shark’s liver. The good news is, with clean and conscious beauty now taking center stage, most brands have turned to using a more sustainable, plant-based form of squalane.
Squalane vs Squalene
While we’ve briefly touched on the main difference between squalane and squalene, it’s important to fully understand what exactly each one does and why it’s crucial to convert squalene into squalane.
We know that the human body produces squalene, but just like other essential naturally occurring compounds such as collagen and hyaluronic acid, its production decreases with age. While it makes sense to infuse skincare products with squalene in its truest form to counter this decline in production, squalene on its own is unstable. Exposure to air and the elements causes squalene to oxidize and lose most of its natural benefits. That’s where squalane comes in.
By undergoing a saturation process, squalene turns into the more stable squalane, which also has a longer shelf-life, before being added to skincare products. It retains the key properties of squalene, making it a biocompatible ingredient that the skin easily recognizes and harnesses.
Squalane vs Hyaluronic Acid
Squalane and hyaluronic acid may have completely different properties, but using them together is one of the best ways to pamper your skin. Hyaluronic acid is a powerful humectant that attracts and binds water into the skin, while squalane is an emollient that locks in moisture and prevents water loss in the skin’s layers. When used together, the two ingredients deliver and seal in a heavy dose of moisture to keep your skin plump, radiant, and healthy. For best results, apply hyaluronic acid first and allow the product to sink in, then layer squalane oil on top to keep all that goodness in place.
Shop the Best Products with Squalane
1.Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream
$49.00
Lightweight yet super hydrating, this noncomedogenic moisturizer is a serious multitasker that helps skin stay smooth and plump while keeping the skin barrier in top form. Infused with multi-weight hyaluronic acid, squalane, and prebiotic peptides, it’s clinically proven to deliver up to 100 hours of moisture and is verified as microbiome-friendly.
Skin Type: All Skin Types
Beauty Insider Tip: This moisturizer has been awarded the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance™, making it ideal for those with eczema and sensitive skin.
2. Dermalogica Phyto Nature Lifting Eye Cream
1 reviews
$115.00
Signs of aging are more prominent in the eye area because of its delicate skin that’s also prone to dryness. Thanks to a blend of powerful quinoa seed extract, peptides, and vitamins, this eye cream immediately lifts and firms sagging skin while helping reduce visible lines and folds, leaving you with a more youthful gaze.
Skin Type: All Skin Types
Beauty Insider Tip: This eye cream can be used directly on your eyelids and is suitable for all skin types, including those with sensitive skin. Use twice daily for best results.
3. Revision Skincare Vitamin C Lotion 30%
3 reviews
$146.00
Infused with the most stable and lipid-soluble vitamin C, this powerhouse brightening treatment fades dark spots and discoloration and refines the appearance of lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin while making sure to keep your complexion smooth, hydrated, and safe from environmental aggressors.
Skin Type: All Skin Types
Beauty Insider Tip: This treatment’s unique formula contains the highest quality and potency of vitamin C available, and together with vitamin E (tocopherol) and coenzymeQ10, it provides a full line-up of antioxidants.
4. ClarityRx Nourish Your Skin 100 Percent Squalane Additive Oil
11 reviews
$58.00
Give your skin an instantly nourishing boost of moisture with this pure squalane oil. Ideal for all skin types, including acne-prone skin, this quick-absorbing oil penetrates deeply and promotes healing, hydration, and protection.
Skin Type: All Skin Types
Beauty Insider Tip: This face oil also boosts your skin’s ability to protect itself from environmental aggressors while improving oxygen flow into the skin.
5. SkinCeuticals Hydra Balm Moisturizer Treatment
78 reviews
$25.00
With a deeply hydrating formula infused with pure petroleum, aloe, and squalane, this balm delivers long-lasting relief and healing to dry, itchy, and irritated skin by restoring the skin’s natural lipid barrier, calming redness and inflammation, and locking in moisture.
Skin Type: All Skin Types:
Beauty Insider Tip: This emollient balm is best for post-procedure skin and those dealing with inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
6. Perricone MD Hypoallergenic Nourishing Moisturizer
11 reviews
$75.00
Ideal for all skin types, especially dry skin, this ultra-moisturizing cream combines antioxidants and AHAs to minimize the appearance of wrinkles and fade scars and discoloration while soothing and protecting skin.
Skin Type: All Skin Types
Beauty Insider Tip: The combination of vitamin E, olive polyphenols, and squalane makes this moisturizer a hydration superstar that also delivers effective antioxidant protection against environmental aggressors.
7. DHC Rich Moisture Face Moisturizer
14 reviews
$37.00
Also featuring the tried-and-tested trio of vitamin E, squalane, and olive oil is this lightweight moisturizer that doesn’t hold back when it comes to protecting, conditioning, and soothing your skin. It’s the perfect way to counter dryness and dehydration, refine signs of aging, and shield your skin from free radical damage.
Skin Type: Combination Skin, Dry Skin, Mature Skin
Beauty Insider Tip: This face moisturizer has a milky texture that dries quickly and leaves your complexion with a soft finish.
8. IMAGE Skincare BIOME+ Cleansing Comfort Balm
$39.00
This cleansing balm features a unique formula that combines the soft texture of a cream with the slip of a cleansing oil. Infused with 100 percent plant-based squalane, it rids your skin of the day’s dirt, dust, and makeup residue without drying out your skin or stripping its natural barrier.
Skin Type: All Skin Types
Beauty Insider Tip: For a complete deep cleanse, apply to dry skin and massage for at least one minute before rinsing with water.
9. Dr. Whitney Bowe Beauty Bowe Glowe Microbiome Nourishing Cream
$95.00
Formulated by renowned dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe, this nourishing cream is all you need to help balance your skin’s microbiome and restore the skin barrier. Infused with squalane, hyaluronic acid, pre- and postbiotics, and ceramides, this day-and-night moisturizer is clinically proven to deliver results in as little as one hour after a single application.
Skin Type: All Skin Types
Beauty Insider Tip: A must-have on recovery nights, this ultra-nourishing cream rounds up Dr. Whitney Bowe’s viral Skin Cycling routine.
10. Doctor Rogers Face Cream
$78.00
With its luxurious texture and intensely hydrating formula—all thanks to squalane, shea butter, and niacinamide—this face cream leaves skin looking and feeling instantly plump, firm, and youthful.
Skin Type: All Skin Types
Beauty Insider Tip: This hydrating cream is an all-in-one moisturizer that works just as well when applied to your eye area, neck, and decolletage.
The Bottom Line
Squalane may not be as buzzy as other heavy-hitting skincare ingredients, but there’s no denying its unmatched benefits when it comes to moisturizing, hydration, and strengthening the skin barrier. But that’s not all. Studies have shown that squalane has antioxidant properties that enhance the skin’s protection from environmental damage and oxidative stress.
As the highly stable form of squalene, squalane is known for its bioavailability—it mimics the skin’s natural oils, making it easy for the skin to recognize and process. Lightweight and noncomedogenic, it delivers unmatched nourishment to all skin types, including those with sensitive or acne-prone skin.
Janeca Racho is a Journalism graduate with over 15 years of writing experience. After getting her start in public relations and advertising, she made the switch to freelance writing and began working for various lifestyle, fashion, and travel brands. Her love for all things skincare has led her to beauty reporting and research for the last ten years. Writing for several hair and beauty blogs, she reports on anti-aging staples, trending brands and products, must-have ingredients, and health and wellness.
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