SQUALENE

📋 Quick facts

Description: SQUALENE — moisturizing (precursor to Squalane, less stable due to oxidation).

All Functions: moisturizing (precursor to Squalane, less stable due to oxidation)

Quick Facts:

• Category: emollient
• Comedogenic Rating: 2/5

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Squalene is a natural compound found in human skin oil (sebum), making up about 13% of it
• It’s also present in certain fish oils and some vegetable oils
• Research suggests squalene has antioxidant, skin-hydrating, and emollient properties
• Squalane is a stable, saturated version of squalene used in cosmetics
• Both squalene and squalane are confirmed safe for cosmetic use by expert safety panels
• Squalene reacts with ozone in indoor air, though long-term health effects need more study

⚗️ Chemical Overview

(E,E,E,E)-Squalene has been reported in Erythrophleum fordii, Sideritis candicans, and other organisms with data available. See also: Squalene (annotation moved to).

Source(s): LOTUS – the natural products occurrence database, PubChem, via PubChem

📊 Comedogenicity

2/5

🛡️ Safety rating

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.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 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

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Squalene is a polyunsaturated hydrocarbon—a type of fat molecule with multiple double bonds between carbon atoms. Because your skin naturally produces it as part of sebum (skin oil), squalene is essentially a familiar ingredient your body already makes (Adv Food Nutr Res, 2012). The compound can be extracted from fish oils (especially shark liver oil) and some plant-based oils in smaller amounts. Squalane, a related ingredient, is created by saturating squalene, making it more stable and shelf-stable for cosmetic formulations (Adv Food Nutr Res, 2012). #1: Antioxidant activity. Research in animal models and laboratory settings has shown squalene possesses antioxidant properties, meaning it can help neutralize free radicals—unstable molecules that damage skin (Adv Food Nutr Res, 2012).

In a recent study using an oleogel formulation containing squalene applied to skin exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, the squalene activated antioxidant pathways that reduced photodamage and promoted expression of collagen and elastin, proteins important for skin structure (J Nanobiotechnology, 2025). #2: Skin hydration and barrier support. Both in vitro (lab dish) and animal studies have reported skin-hydrating and emollient (softening) activities for squalene and squalane (Adv Food Nutr Res, 2012). The 2025 study noted that squalene in an oil-based formulation mimics the skin’s natural lipid structure, enhancing penetration and ingredient retention (J Nanobiotechnology, 2025). #3: Safety. An expert panel reviewing cosmetic ingredient safety confirmed that both squalane and squalene are safe for use in cosmetics at the concentrations and practices currently described (Int J Toxicol, 2023).

One important caveat: squalene in your skin reacts with ozone—a component of both outdoor and indoor air pollution. This reaction produces various compounds including aldehydes and ketones; however, the long-term health and toxicological effects of these reaction products in real-world settings remain poorly understood (Environ Sci Technol, 2022). This is an area needing further research rather than a proven concern, but worth noting.

📄 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.
• Adam MP et al. (1993). Squalene Synthase Deficiency. a peer-reviewed journal.
• Coffaro B et al. (2022). Reactions and Products of Squalene and Ozone: A Review. Environ Sci Technol.
• Yan L et al. (2025). Nanowire-based squalene oleogel repairs skin photoaging. J Nanobiotechnology.

🧴 Products Containing SQUALENE

• Glossco color beat mask
• Vivi verde Crema viso idratante protettiva
• Coop, Vivi verde scrub corpo esfoliante
• Deliplus Mascarilla Plex Repair
• Deliplus Mascarilla violín con aceite de chia
• belle Natural
• Manufaktura Original Home Spa Beer Cosmetics
• Schmidt’s, Schmidts Schmidt’s Déodorant Stick Signature Rose + Vanille 75g
• Nidé.co, Nidéco Tits Party
• L.A colours lipstick hydrating
• Avril Lait corporel au beurre de karité bio à l’ale vera bio
• Avril Lait corporel
• eos
• Green Beaver Extra Dry Body Lotion
• eos
• Earth Mama Mineral Sunscreen Lotion
• Avon sun protection spf 40
• Karethic Nectar de Jeunesse – Sérum Éclat 2 en 1 Anti-tâches
• Steripan – Hydratant à lèvres (Cola)
• Delia Cosmetics Niacinamida 10% Zinc
• Urtekram Hand Cream
• Sanaka bio Crème de jour au cbd
• Alvadiem Baume pieds secs
• Avril LAIT CORPOREL
• vivi verde coop Crema viso nutriente protettiva
• vivi verde Coop crema viso rivitalizzante protettiva giorno
• adopt’ crème solaire – haute protection visage – corps
• PHYT’S Masque Hydra Instant
• Cure Soyeuse, Royalsilk, Soie Royale Soie Royale BIO Cure Soyeuse Soin Hydratation Brillance Intense Cheveux Visage Corps
• Cure Soyeuse, Royalsilk, Soie Royale Soie royale BIO Cure Soyeuse Soin Hydratation Brillance Intense Cheveux Visage Corps
• Cure Soyeuse, Royalsilk, Soie Royale Soie royale BIO Cure Soyeuse Soin Hydratation Brillance Intense Cheveux Visage Corps
• Unbottled Shampoing tout nu cheveux colorés
• MyLubie Lubrifiant naturel à base d’eau texture fluide Calendula & Vitamine E
• urtekram baobab aloe vera men deo
• Urtekram Chargement…
• Prep Crema solare viso multi protection
• Indy Beauty Arbutin & liquorice glow up moisturizer
• gold bond ultimate
• I provenzali Crema mani erboristica
• Anny Rey Princesse de jour