Squalane vs. Squalene
What is Squalene?
Squalene is a fat-soluble antioxidant that our skin produces in our sebum. It's also is found in shark liver oil and botanical sources such as olives, rice bran, sugar cane, and wheat germ. The word itself comes from the Latin word Squalus which means shark.
Benefits + Uses
Super-light, non-greasy & absorbs quickly into skin
A strong natural antioxidant
Stimulates better blood circulation for the skin
Does not form a barrier on the skin like many other oils do so may be used under moisturizers
Offers superior hydration for all skin types & conditions
Helps regulate excess oil production, improves moisture balance and the elasticity of the skin
Prevents environmental stressors (helps with premature aging)
Aids in penetration of other nutrients helps skincare products be more effective
Fantastic for hydrating the eye & lip areas
Clinically proven to be non-irritating
Good for skin conditions like eczema, dermatitis & psoriasis
Antibacterial benefits
Sharks
You may be wondering why shark oil would be used in skincare at all. Around 60-85% of the oil in deep-sea sharks’ livers is made up of squalene. It helps the body use oxygen more efficiently and help regulate their buoyancy which is kind of important when you live at the bottom of the sea! Unfortunately, with the demand and popularity of this ingredient in beauty, these poor sharks have been hunted to near extinction. Put this into perspective, it takes an estimate of 3,000 sharks to make 1 ton of squalene. Not only is this absolutely terrible and inhumane it’s also not sustainable. This has led to the use of plant-based sources instead of sharks. (Thank goodness!)
When shopping for skincare products I recommend looking for the words bio-based, plant-based, or olive/sugar-based squalane because it's ethically extracted.
Squalane vs. Squalene
Now you may have noticed the difference in spelling, here is why…SqualEne alone is very unstable, comedogenic for some skin types, and will go rancid rather quickly. SqualAne is when squalene goes through hydrogenation processing. This means it turns the squalene from an unsaturated oil into a 100% saturated oil. This is even more than coconut oil which is around 80-90%. Why this is important is because our skin does not produce saturated fatty acids on its own and it’s essential for true moisturization and health of the skin. Plus, it’s non-comedogenic and suitable for all skin types!
