Ingredient spotlight: squalane
Share
Ingredient spotlight: squalane
Squalane is one of those ingredients that sounds like a sci-fi molecule but behaves like a skin whisperer. Lightweight, stable, and skin-identical—it checks all the right boxes without stealing the entire show.
🦈 ORIGINS
Squalene (the precursor to squalane) was first discovered in the liver oil of deep-sea sharks—specifically Squalus species, hence the name. For decades, shark-derived squalene was prized in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals for its silky texture and antioxidant properties.
Modern squalane, is plant-derived from olives or sugarcane—offering all the benefits without harming marine ecosystems.
WHAT IT IS
Squalene is one of the main lipids in human sebum, making up about 10–12%. But it's unstable—oxidizes quickly and turns rancid. Squalane (with an “a”) is its upgraded form: fully saturated, shelf-stable, and oxidation-resistant, while still mimicking the natural lipid our skin produces in its sebum. As we age, our squalene production drops off—leaving our barrier more vulnerable to dehydration, irritation, and dullness.
Our squalane is sourced from olives and bio-identical to the squalene your skin already knows and loves, which makes it wildly effective and absurdly gentle.
WHY WE USE IT
In our balm, squalane helps create that silky, glide-y texture—but its benefits go much deeper:
- reinforces the skin barrier
- softens and smooths without clogging pores
- boosts the absorption of other lipids
- plays well with sensitive, acne-prone, or reactive skin
It’s basically the social lubricant of your skincare routine: invisible, calming, and makes everything else work better.
TL;DR
Squalane is a minimalist’s dream: one ingredient that does a lot, without making a fuss. That’s why it earns a spot in our lineup.