Ingredient Info

The Subtle Yet Significant Difference Between Squalane and Squalene in Skin Care

The two ingredients may have similar benefits for your skin, but the way they're sourced could make a big difference, depending on your ethos.
Woman with blue eyeliner holding facial oil dropper to the top of her cheek
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In the world of skin-care ingredients, there's more than a lot to keep up with. Things can get overwhelming — we get it. But we'd venture to bet that if you took a look through your medicine cabinet right this second, you would probably find a product or two that contains squalane or squalene (and more likely the former). Although both serve a similar purpose, that one letter makes a big difference when it comes to efficacy and stability. 

Confused yet? Keep reading to learn what the difference is between squalane and squalene and their benefits, plus some of our favorite products made with the ingredients.

Squalane vs. squalene

Squalene, with an e, is naturally produced by the body. More specifically, it's produced by the sebaceous (oil) glands in our skin. The sebum that our sebaceous glands produce is actually "made up of triglycerides, wax esters, and squalene," explains Marisa Garshick, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. As annoying as oil can be, all of its components, squalene included, "help to keep the skin moisturized."

Charlotte Birnbaum, M.D., another New York City-based, board-certified dermatologist, sums it up succinctly, saying that "Squalene is a lipid, or fat, made naturally by our oil glands to hydrate and maintain the barrier of our skin." The beneficial properties of squalene don't end there; it has also been found to fight free-radical damage in our skin as an antioxidant, Dr. Birnbaum explains.

Unfortunately for all of us, though, our natural production of squalene "slows significantly after the age of 30," explains board-certified dermatologist Samantha Fisher, M.D., which is why it makes sense that we’d all want to bottle it up and slather it on our skin. However, squalene in its natural state isn't very stable, which is why, for skin-care purposes, it goes through a saturation process to become squalane.

To get into the nitty-gritty, the e turns into an a when squalene is converted into squalane through a process called hydrogenation. Why is this necessary? "If squalene was not hydrogenated, it would oxidize when exposed to air and no longer have its benefits," Dr. Garshick explains. In other words, squalane is a more shelf-stable and effective version of squalene, which is why the former is the version that makes it into our skin-care creams, face serums and oils.

Where does squalane come from?

Squalene is naturally found in high concentrations in shark liver — yes, as in actual sharks, the ocean animal. As such, for a long time, shark liver oil was one of the most common squalene sources in cosmetics. Due to obvious ethical concerns, many companies have shifted away from using shark-derived squalene in their products; in fact, it's hard to find it on shelves in the United States at all. 

Instead, "The squalane in skin-care products is now being derived mostly from plants such as olives and rice bran," Dr. Garshick says. It can also be derived from other plant oils including amaranth seed, wheat germ, and even sugar cane, Dr. Fisher explains.

Who should use squalane and what’s the best way to do so?

Because of its well-documented emollient properties, people with dry and/or mature skin can especially benefit from using squalane, though it can really benefit all skin types (including sensitive). Additionally, since it works to naturally seal in moisture, squalane can "aid in skin-care problems wherein the skin barrier is disrupted and transepidermal water loss is an issue," Dr. Fisher says. These include things like eczema, acne, and even psoriasis.

The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane on white background

The Ordinary

The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane

Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask on white background

Youth to the People

Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask

When it comes to how to incorporate squalane into your routine, there are myriad ways. You’ll find it in just about every type of moisturizing skin-care formula. Some of our favorite squalane-containing products for the face include The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane and Youth to the People's Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask

If you want to slather squalane all over your body, try Kiehl's Creme de Corps or Beautycounter's Countermatch Adaptive Body Moisturizer, both of which contain squalane derived from olives. For the most delicate area of the face, try a squalane-laden eye cream, such as the best-selling Biossance Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel.

Kiehl's Crème de Corps on white background

Kiehl's

Kiehl's Crème de Corps

Biossance Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel on white background

Biossance

Biossance Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel

Who should avoid using squalane?

Another great thing about squalane is that it's odorless and "not a common irritant or allergen, so even the most sensitive skin is unlikely to react to it," Birnbaum says. That said, Dr. Garshick wisely reminds us, "for those with sensitive skin, while it is not thought to be particularly irritating, it is always important to be cautious when starting new products to make sure your skin can tolerate it."


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