Squalane | Ingredient 101

Hey lovely people of the internet! As a lover of everything hydrating that gives my skin a dewy and glowy look, Squalane is high up on my list of favorites.

Let’s learn more about it, shall we!

What is Squalane?

Squalene (with an ‘e’) is a polyunsaturated hydrocarbon. It is produced by the skin’s sebaceous glands. An oil, or call it a lipid, forms (10-12)% of the sebum, which coats your skin’s outer surface and maintains the cutaneous barrier.

Therefore, Squalene is converted to Squalane in a process called hydrogenation (wherein hydrogen is added to the molecules of squalene). This enables the manufacturers to use the more stable ingredient in their skin formulations and make the products more effective for human skin. In most of the OTC products you can find Squalane as a common ingredient, which is included as an ingredient. However, squalene may appear in a few of the products’ ingredient lists. So, here’s a warning – don’t go for them! They can do a good job at moisturizing the skin, but they “oxidize like crazy,” even if you apply the product on your skin from a fresh bottle.

Now, squalene is mainly extracted from plant oils; some include – olive oil, wheat germ oil, rice brand, sugarcane, amaranth seeds, etc. Almost all skincare companies use this method. 

Also, Squalane has a lighter consistency than squalene, which makes the former go all easy on your skin, not appearing greasy at all.

It Makes your skin soft and hydrated. 

Squalane acts as an emollient. Its small particles trickle down, filling the skin cells’ gaps and even smoothing their rough edges. It makes the skin more flexible and resistant to cracks, It can also form an occlusive barrier on the skin and retard the transepidermal loss of water.

Acts as an efficient antioxidant.

Squalane protects you against free radicals, which are oxygen-related species that go around hunting for electrons. Squalane, being an antioxidant, neutralizes the free radicals. It even slows down the signs of aging in your face. 

Diminishes the fine lines and wrinkles.

Dryness is harmless, but it can still lead to patches in the areas under your eyes and lips. It may take days to repair them. Not only does Squalane treat the dryness, but it also prevents these patches from occurring further. In this process, fine lines and wrinkles can be minimized as well.

Stamps out the irritation of your face and other parts of the body. 

A disrupted skin barrier can irritate your skin. Squalane attempts to fix the barrier.

It is odorless and colorless in nature. This enables it to stand as one of the most non-irritating ingredients in the skincare world. People having sensitive skin can also use it and not worry much.

Non-comedogenic in nature.

The other oils (such as jojoba oil, coconut oil, etc.) come as heavy and greasy substances that can clog your pores. But Squalane doesn’t. Yes, you have heard it right. It will not create a blockage in the pores or worsen your acne. It falls light on the skin and ensures that your skin can breathe through it. 

Works on the symptoms of temporary redness. 

Squalane lessens the severity of the condition, having a gentle and mild effect on the skin. It relieves you of the discomfort you face to a certain extent. 

Takes care of your nails as well as the hair. 

Squalane increases the luminosity and vibrancy of your skin. It also prevents breakage and split ends in hair. It can also be used to treat the dry and damaged nails.

Soothes a few skin conditions. 

Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, Squalane brings relief to the Atopic dermatitis (or eczema) and Psoriasis.