When poring over ingredients in products that might help your dry or itchy skin, you may have encountered squalane. And maybe you skimmed over it because it looks scientific and you didn’t understand what it does. Or maybe you saw the word oil and assumed it wouldn’t be right for your oily or combination skin.
Squalane isn’t complicated — it’s an oil derived from a substance your skin produces naturally on its own. And even being an oil, it isn’t bad for oily or combination skin — it’s lightweight, non-greasy, and sinks into the skin easily, no matter your skin type. If you need to protect your skin barrier and soothe dryness, squalane is a great place to start.
Before Squalane: Squalene
Squalane (with an “a”) is a lightweight, non-greasy oil that mimics your skin’s natural moisture. It’s derived from squalene (with an “e”), a substance found in a number of natural sources, including your own skin. The squalene your body produces helps strengthen your skin barrier — the outermost layer that keeps moisture in and irritants out. A healthy barrier means your skin feels soft, balanced, and less reactive to the everyday stress of weather, facial cleansers, and even dry indoor air.
But squalene doesn’t last forever. As we age, our natural production of squalene slows down, which can lead to dryness, irritation, and a weakened moisture barrier. (This usually starts in your 20s or 30s.) And while squalene is great inside your skin, it oxidizes when it’s exposed to air, making it too unstable to use in a skincare product.
Squalene’s Stable Sister
When squalene production slows down, that’s where squalane comes in. Squalane is a version of squalene that’s been sourced elsewhere, usually from plants (Sarna’s squalene is fully vegan), and hydrogenated to make it stable and shelf-friendly. It can be used in skincare products where squalene can’t, providing the moisture-retaining and protective benefits squalene used to provide.
Stable squalane provides its benefits in the form of a light, silky, fast-absorbing oil that picks up where squalene left off, helping to banish dryness, smooth the appearance of flaky skin, soothe sensitive skin, and support the skin’s moisture barrier.
What Does Squalane Do for Skin?
Because it’s so similar to the oils your body naturally produces, squalane sinks into your skin easily to deliver its many benefits. Benefits of squalene include:
• Deep, lasting hydration. It helps lock in moisture and smooth the look of dry or flaky skin.
• Barrier support. It helps strengthen your skin’s natural defense against dryness.
• Soothing and calming. It helps reduce the appearance of redness and ease sensitivity.
• Lightweight texture. It absorbs quickly and can work well even for oil or combination skin.
• Antioxidant protection. It naturally helps protect skin from stressors in the environment around you.
Whether your skin is already feeling the effects of aging or you want to get ahead of the aging process, squalene is a great way to maintain moisture and strengthen your skin’s moisture barrier. You can’t turn back time, but you can give your skin a powerful ingredient to help it feel healthy and hydrated.
