Squalane 101

What Is Squalane? Benefits, Uses, and Why Your Skin Loves It

Squalane is a lightweight, plant-derived emollient that restores hydration, supports your moisture barrier, and leaves your complexion looking visibly dewy and radiant.

What is squalane?

Squalane is a saturated, stable hydrocarbon derived from squalene, a lipid your body naturally produces as part of its own sebumⁱ. Squalene accounts for approximately 13% of the lipids that make up human sebumⁱ. Because squalane is structurally similar to your skin’s own oils, it’s highly biocompatible: your skin recognizes it, absorbs it easily, and puts it to work fast.

Unlike heavier oils, squalane absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue and is generally well-tolerated across all skin typesⁱⁱ, making it a foundational hydrating ingredient for effortlessly effective skincare.

Squalane vs. squalene: what’s the difference?

These two ingredients share a name (and almost identical spelling), but they function differently in skincare. Squalene, spelled with an “e,” is the unsaturated form naturally found in human sebumⁱ. The challenge with squalene is that it’s prone to oxidation, which makes it unstable for use in topical products.

Squalane, spelled with an “a,” is created through a process called hydrogenation. This saturates the compound and makes it shelf-stable, oxidation-resistant, and safe for daily topical useⁱⁱⁱ. You get all the skin-compatibility benefits of squalene in a reliable, effective format.

Where does squalane come from?

Originally, squalene was harvested from shark liver oil, which raised serious ethical and environmental concernsⁱ. Today, the beauty industry has largely moved to plant-derived sources. Squalane is now commonly sourced from sugarcane, olives, and amaranth, producing an ingredient that is vegan, cruelty-free, and sustainably derived.

At Naturium, our squalane is a plant-derived, vegan formula, so you can feel good about using it every day.

How does squalane work on skin?

Squalane works as both an emollient and a barrier-supporting ingredient, which is why it slots so easily into so many different routines.

It’s an emollient that mimics your skin’s natural oils

As an emollient, squalane fills in the microscopic gaps between skin cells, softening and smoothing the skin’s surface^iv. Its molecular structure closely mirrors your skin’s own sebum, so it integrates naturally into the outermost layer of skin rather than just sitting on top of it.

Your body’s natural squalene production peaks in early adulthood and decreases thereafter, which can contribute to dryness, compromised skin texture, and a loss of suppleness^vvi. Replenishing your skin with plant-derived squalane helps restore what time gradually takes away.

It locks in moisture without clogging pores

Squalane helps reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL), the process by which moisture evaporates from the skin’s surface into the surrounding air^iv. By forming a breathable layer on the skin, squalane seals in hydration without causing pore congestion.

What are the benefits of squalane for skin?

Squalane delivers a real range of skin benefits, which is why it shows up in so many different product formats.

Deep, lasting hydration

Squalane is a strong moisture-retaining ingredient^iv. With consistent use, it helps keep skin feeling soft, plump, and comfortable throughout the day. It softens the surface while reducing moisture loss, making it a dependable hydrator for everyday use.

Supports a healthy skin barrier

Your skin barrier is your first line of defense against environmental stressors, pollution, and moisture loss. When it’s functioning well, skin feels balanced and resilient. Squalane helps reinforce this protective barrier, supporting its ability to retain hydration and defend against daily environmental exposure^iv.

Lightweight, non-greasy feel

Despite being an oil, squalane absorbs quickly and leaves no residueⁱⁱ. It’s comfortable for everyday wear, morning or evening, which is part of why it works for so many different skin types and routines.

Helps soothe and calm skin

Squalane is a gentle option for sensitive, reactive, or easily irritated skin. Studies have shown it helps reduce the appearance of redness and supports a calmer-looking complexion with consistent use^vii. It works in part by helping suppress superoxide production in skin cells^viii, making it one of the more well-researched soothing ingredients available.

Supports a more radiant, dewy complexion

When your skin is well-hydrated and your moisture barrier is doing its job, a healthy glow tends to follow. Squalane helps skin look visibly plumper, brighter, and more radiant, exactly the kind of dewy finish that comes from skin that’s nourished.

Who should use squalane?

Squalane is one of the few ingredients that generally suits all skin typesⁱⁱ, so it’s a solid addition to almost any routine.

Dry skin

If your skin often feels tight, flaky, or constantly thirsty for moisture, squalane is a natural fit. It helps prevent moisture from escaping the skin^iv, softens rough patches, and delivers the kind of lasting hydration dry skin needs.

Oily and acne-prone skin

It might seem counterintuitive to apply an oil to oily skin, but squalane is different. Unlike squalene, squalane has been shown to remain non-comedogenic even under UVA exposure, meaning it won’t clog pores or trigger breakouts. Because it closely resembles your skin’s own sebum, it can help bring oil production into better balance over time.

Sensitive skin

Squalane is free from fragrance, known irritants, and oxidation byproducts. Testing across multiple studies confirms it is not a significant human skin irritant or sensitizerⁱⁱ, making it one of the most broadly well-tolerated ingredients in skincare and widely recommended for reactive skin types.

Aging skin

As your skin’s natural squalene production decreases with age^v, it becomes more vulnerable to dryness, fine lines, and a loss of suppleness. Topical squalane helps replenish what your skin gradually loses, supporting a smoother, more hydrated complexion over time.

How to add squalane to your skincare routine

Squalane is one of the most flexible ingredients you can use. It layers well with other products and fits naturally into morning and evening routines.

When to use squalane

You can use squalane in both your AM and PM routines. In the morning, it helps lock in the hydration from your earlier skincare steps before SPF. In the evening, it supports your skin’s overnight recovery by keeping moisture levels steady through the night.

How to layer squalane

As a general rule, apply squalane after lightweight water-based serums and before heavier moisturizers. This lets it seal in the hydrating layers underneath while still leaving room for richer creams on top if your skin needs them.

When squalane is already formulated into a serum or mist, like in Naturium’s Barrier Bounce collection, the layering is built right into the product. You get the benefits of squalane plus complementary ingredients like ceramides, urea, and botanical extracts all at once.

Apply to slightly damp skin

For better moisture retention, apply squalane-based products to skin that’s slightly damp. This helps the ingredient lock in existing hydration rather than trying to compensate for a fully dehydrated surface.

Introducing the Naturium Barrier Bounce Collection

The Barrier Bounce collection pairs squalane with barrier-supporting ingredients to deliver hydration in two formats: a nourishing serum and an ultra-fine refreshing mist.

Barrier Bounce Serum | 5% Squalane + 2% Urea + Ceramides

Our Barrier Bounce Serum is an advanced skin hydrator formulated with 5% squalane, 2% urea, and a ceramide complex to support a healthy skin barrier. This nourishing oil-serum formula helps plump, brighten, and hydrate skin for a visibly dewy, glowing complexion.

Barrier Bounce Bi-Phase Mist | Squalane + Ceramides + Botanical Extracts

Our Barrier Bounce Bi-Phase Mist is an ultra-fine, fast-absorbing mist that quenches, calms, and refreshes skin for a dewy complexion. It’s formulated to help soothe and support the skin’s moisture barrier while defending against environmental stressors, making it a great option for layering over your routine or refreshing skin throughout the day.

ⁱREPLACE_WITH_SOURCE_1_URL

ⁱⁱhttps://cosmoderma.org/daily-use-of-a-bakuchiol-and-squalane-containing-face-serum-impacts-skin-esthetics/

ⁱⁱⁱhttps://cir-safety.org

^ivhttps://mdpi-res.com

^vhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

^vihttps://frontiersin.org

^viihttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

^viiihttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11442061/

^ixhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

DISCLAIMER: Lab Journals are intended to help educate on specific ingredients and skin care topics. Our articles are written to be informative and informational. 
Please note any Naturium products with referenced ingredients are formulated for Cosmetic Use Only and NOT intended as replacements for physician pharmaceutical product recommendations.