Squalane

Description: Squalane — moisturizing, occlusive.

All Functions: moisturizing, occlusive

Quick Facts:

• Category: emollient
• Comedogenic Rating: 1/5

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Squalane is a stable, saturated form of squalene, a natural component of human skin oil (sebum)
• It’s found in fish oils, shark liver oil, and some vegetable oils
• Regulatory experts have confirmed squalane is safe for use in cosmetics at typical concentrations
• Research suggests benefits for skin hydration, antioxidant protection, and skin barrier support
• Studies show it may help other skincare ingredients penetrate and stay in the skin longer

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🧪 Squalane

Squalane

CAS Number: 111-01-3

Also Known As: —

Category: emollient

EC Number: 203-825-6

Korean Name: 스쿠알란

2,6,10,15,19,23-Hexamethyltetracosane

Squalane is an emollient ingredient used in skincare formulations.

🌍 Regulatory Status

📊 Comedogenicity

1/5

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Squalane is a hydrocarbon compound (C₃₀H₅₀) and a saturated derivative of squalene, which naturally makes up about 13% of human sebum—the oily substance your skin produces naturally (Adv Food Nutr Res, 2012). You can find it in shark liver oil and certain plant-based oils, though in smaller amounts. Safety: The International Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety reviewed squalane in cosmetics as recently as 2023 and confirmed it is safe at the concentrations and uses currently practiced in skincare products (Int J Toxicol, 2023). #1: Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. In laboratory studies using human skin cells (dermal fibroblasts), squalane at very low concentrations (0.005-0.015%) helped protect against damage from UVA sun exposure.

Specifically, it reduced markers of oxidative stress and inflammation, including suppressing inflammatory proteins like NF-κB and COX-2 (Molecules, 2025). The same research found squalane supported the skin’s natural antioxidant defense system by increasing expression of Nrf2, a key protective molecule. #2: Supporting skin repair and collagen health. In the same UVA-damage model, squalane appeared to support the skin’s ability to maintain and produce collagen, a structural protein that keeps skin firm. It also helped skin cells migrate and heal more effectively after sun damage, suggesting potential value in post-sun and anti-aging formulations (Molecules, 2025). Prior research had reported skin hydrating and emollient (softening) activities, though the newer studies provide more mechanistic detail (Adv Food Nutr Res, 2012).

#3: Enhancing other ingredients’ skin penetration. When squalane was added to a cosmetic formulation containing polyphenols (plant compounds with antioxidant properties), it actually reduced how quickly those polyphenols moved through the skin—but in a beneficial way. This slower movement meant the polyphenols stayed in the skin longer, increasing what researchers call ‘dermal availability’ and retention time (Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces, 2022). This suggests squalane could act as a vehicle to keep beneficial ingredients working in your skin rather than passing through it rapidly. Limitations: Most of these studies were conducted in laboratory or cell-culture settings, not on living human skin in real-world conditions.

The head-lice study (Parasitol Res, 2021) is an outlier showing practical efficacy but addresses a different use case. Overall, while the research is promising, it remains largely preliminary.

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

Derived from this ingredient’s irritancy potential and comedogenicity rating against the needs of each skin type — e.g. oily and acne-prone skin are marked down for pore-clogging ingredients, sensitive skin for irritants. A starting heuristic, not a dermatological verdict.

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

🧴 Products Containing Squalane

• Max & More, Max & More Make-up Lipstick
• eco cosmetics Summer Lips
• Essence mySKIN PERFECTOR
• Wella Ultimate Repair Mask
• Sun Dance, Sundance Sonnenfluid sensitiv LSF 50+
• Sun Dance, Sundance sun dance 50+ Sonnenmilch
• Sundance,dm Sundance Kids 50 Sonnenmilch
• caremare RHODOPHYTA ALOE VERA SHIELD DAY CREAM
• Fancl Core effector
• Tiger Moon Retinol Night Cream
• Charlotte Tilbury magic eye
• Environ Moisturiser
• Crema de masajes
• Dermato Science SensilianeSun lait protecteur 50+
• Carrefour Soin de jour hydratant fondant
• Kiko Dark treasure eye base
• Clinique Fresh Pressed 7-Day System with Pure Vitamin C
• Ceramol, Unifarco Biomedical Ceramol crema base
• Unifarmaco SpA Ceramol crema palpebrale
• Lillee Pflegeöl Mandel

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Kim SK et al. (2012). Biological importance and applications of squalene and squalane. Adv Food Nutr Res.
• Fiume M et al. (2023). Squalane and Squalene. Int J Toxicol.
• Martínez de Murguía Fernández L et al. (2021). Effectiveness and tolerability of a squalane and dimethicone-based treatment for head lice. Parasitol Res.
• Oliveira ALS et al. (2022). Effect of squalane-based emulsion on polyphenols skin penetration: Ex vivo skin study. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces.
• Wolosik K et al. (2025). Squalane as a Promising Agent Protecting UV-Induced Inhibition of Collagen Biosynthesis and Wound Healing in Human Dermal Fibroblast. Molecules.