What is squalane and what are its benefits for the skin?

Imagine an ingredient that leaves the skin feeling silky soft without a heavy or sticky sensation. One that spreads effortlessly and helps the skin retain moisture.

It is one of the most popular ingredients in cosmetics: squalane.

If you have ever looked through the INCI lists of facial oils, you may already have come across this name. But what exactly is squalane? What do squalane, sharks and olives have in common? And what benefits does it offer the skin?

What is squalane and why does it feel so good on the skin?

Squalane is a clear, odourless and lightweight hydrocarbon. In cosmetics, it is classified as an emollient, meaning an ingredient that softens the skin.

Many rich plant oils can feel heavy on the skin. Squalane spreads easily and leaves the skin feeling smooth and silky without an oily sensation.

Squalane does not provide water-based hydration in the same way as moisture-binding ingredients such as glycerin or hyaluronic acid. Instead, it supplies the skin with lipids, softens its surface and forms a light lipid layer that helps reduce water loss.

Tip: To get the most from a facial oil containing squalane, apply it to slightly damp skin, for example after a toner or water-based serum. This allows the oil to help retain the moisture already present in the skin.

What is the difference between squalene and squalane?

Although their names look confusingly similar, squalene and squalane are not the same substance.

Squalene is a naturally occurring compound and an important component of human sebum. It is also found in olives, amaranth, rice bran and shark liver oil, among other sources. The structure of squalene contains several double bonds, which makes it relatively prone to oxidation, for example when exposed to UV radiation.

Squalane is produced by hydrogenating squalene. During this process, the sensitive double bonds in squalene are removed, making the substance more chemically stable and longer-lasting. This makes squalane more practical than squalene as a cosmetic ingredient.

Put simply:

squalene is a compound that occurs naturally in the skin and in various plant and animal sources
squalane is the more stable form made from squalene and commonly used in cosmetics

On a cosmetic product’s INCI list, squalane appears as Squalane.

What role does squalene play in the skin?

Squalene is one of the characteristic lipids found in human sebum. Together with the lipids in skin cells, sebum forms a film on the skin’s surface that helps keep the skin soft and protects it from environmental stressors.

Research literature indicates that squalene accounts for approximately 12–13% of human sebum. Its amount does not, however, remain the same throughout life. Squalene levels on the skin’s surface have been observed to increase from childhood to adulthood and then decrease again with age.

What are the benefits of squalane for the skin?

The main benefits of squalane are associated with skin softness, a pleasant skin feel and moisture retention.

Squalane smooths unevenness on the skin’s surface and makes the skin feel softer and smoother. At the same time, the light lipid layer it forms on the skin helps reduce transepidermal water loss, or TEWL.

Squalane owes some of its popularity to its lightweight feel. It spreads effortlessly and generally leaves the skin feeling silky soft without creating a heavy or sticky layer.

This makes it a useful ingredient in oil blends designed to nourish and soften the skin while still feeling light.

What does research tell us about squalane?

Squalane has a long history of use in cosmetics, but there are still relatively few high-quality clinical studies examining the effects of pure squalane on human skin. Current research primarily supports its use as a stable, skin-softening lipid.

What was observed in a serum containing squalane and bakuchiol?

In a study published in 2023, 47 women used an oil serum containing bakuchiol and squalane for four weeks. During the study period, transepidermal water loss decreased and skin elasticity improved.

However, the study did not include a control group, and the tested product contained both squalane and bakuchiol. The results therefore cannot be considered evidence of the effects of squalane alone.

What was observed in the 2025 cell study?

In a laboratory study published in 2025, squalane was found to reduce markers of UVA-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in human dermal fibroblasts. The researchers also examined mechanisms related to collagen metabolism.

However, this was a cell study, so its findings cannot be directly equated with the effects of a cosmetic product on human skin.

Based on the available research, squalane can reasonably be described as a well-tolerated, stable and skin-softening ingredient that helps the skin retain moisture.

What do sharks have to do with squalane?

Squalene was originally isolated from shark liver oil. In 1916, the Japanese chemist Mitsumaru Tsujimoto described the highly unsaturated hydrocarbon he had isolated from shark liver oil.

The name squalene is derived from the Latin word Squalus, which refers to a genus of sharks. The name squalane, in turn, is based on squalene.

Shark liver oil was an important source of squalene for many years, and animal-derived squalene was also used in cosmetic manufacturing. Ethical and environmental concerns related to the exploitation of deep-sea sharks have since increased interest in plant-based alternatives.

However, the origin of squalane cannot be determined from the INCI list alone. Squalane produced from either plant- or animal-derived squalene is listed under the same INCI name, Squalane. If its origin is important to you, check with the brand.

How is squalane made from olives?

Olive oil naturally contains a small amount of squalene, which is separated and purified before being converted into squalane.

The final ingredient is therefore not ordinary olive oil, but a highly purified, lightweight and virtually odourless individual substance.

Squalane can also be produced through biotechnology, using sugars derived from sources such as sugar cane as feedstock for the process. Regardless of its origin, the finished squalane molecule is chemically the same.

Why does Floritar use olive-derived squalane in its facial oils?

Floritar uses 100% plant-based, olive-derived squalane in its facial oils. It adds lightness to the oil blends, improves their spreadability and helps leave the skin feeling silky soft without heaviness.

Squalane is found in both Floritar facial oils:

Luminous Green Harmony – Brightening & Balancing Facial Oil is a lightweight, brightening and balancing facial oil.

Radiant Red Berries – Reviving & Regenerating Facial Oil is a richer facial oil created especially for dry, dull-feeling and mature skin.

In both products, squalane works as part of a carefully formulated blend of plant oils rather than on its own. Its role is to add lightness to the formula and help leave the skin feeling soft and cared for.

Who is a facial oil containing squalane suitable for?

Its lightweight, odourless and skin-softening qualities make squalane a versatile cosmetic ingredient. It is particularly suitable for skin that feels dry, rough or tight but does not need a heavy or sticky layer.

Squalane is generally well tolerated, but no individual ingredient or cosmetic product is guaranteed to suit everyone. The suitability of a finished product always depends on its overall composition and the individual characteristics of the skin.

How do you use a facial oil containing squalane?

Apply the facial oil to slightly damp skin after cleansing. The moisture can come from water, a toner or a water-based serum. This allows the oil to help soften the skin and reduce moisture loss.

Two to three drops of a Floritar facial oil are usually enough. You can use the oil on its own or mix the drops into your facial moisturiser.

What are the most frequently asked questions about squalane?

Is squalane the same as an oil?

Chemically, no. Although it is often called squalane oil because of its oil-like consistency, it is technically a hydrocarbon rather than a plant oil composed of triglycerides.

Can squalane clog pores?

Squalane is generally considered a lightweight and well-tolerated ingredient, but the effect of a product on pores depends on its overall composition and the individual characteristics of the skin. If your skin is prone to blemishes, test a new product on a small area first.

Can the INCI list reveal what squalane is made from?

No. Squalane made from either plant- or animal-derived squalene is listed under the same INCI name, Squalane. The INCI list alone does not reveal the origin of the ingredient, so this information must be checked with the brand. The squalane used by Floritar is 100% plant-based and made from olives.

Does squalane hydrate the skin?

Squalane does not increase the skin’s water content. Instead, it supplies the skin with lipids.

How does squalane feel on the skin?

Squalane is lightweight, easy to spread and silky. It generally leaves the skin feeling soft without a strongly greasy or sticky sensation.

Have you already tried a facial oil containing squalane, or has this article made you curious to try one?