Squalane ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a lightweight emollient that softens skin, reduces transepidermal water loss, and improves slip in oils, creams, serums, and balms.
What does Squalane do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a lightweight emollient that softens skin, reduces transepidermal water loss, and improves slip in oils, creams, serums, and balms.
Is Squalane clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is widely accepted because it is well tolerated, low in irritation potential, and not a common allergen. It has little restricted-list friction when the source is plant or fermentation based.
Is Squalane sustainable?
This material is now commonly sourced from olive, sugarcane, or fermentation routes, while older animal-derived sourcing is a supply-chain concern. It is biodegradable, but its overall footprint depends on feedstock choice, land use, and traceability.
Is Squalane COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic frameworks when made from approved renewable feedstocks using accepted processing such as hydrogenation. It aligns well with Green Chemistry when the source is traceable, plant based, or fermentation based, with good stability and low aquatic persistence concerns.
How does Squalane work chemically?
The molecule is a saturated, branched C30 hydrocarbon, which makes it highly oxidation-stable and essentially pH inert in finished formulas. It is typically used from about 1% to 20%, pairs well with esters, oils, waxes, and silicones, and can help improve spread without adding a greasy feel.
Last updated 2026-05-15