A natural emollient for a more vibrant, younger-looking skin.
“What?” you’ll probably say when reading this. “Another skin care ingredient that I need to know about?”
Bear with us, we say. If you understand the benefits of squalane, you’ll never look back.
What is squalane?
Let’s start with squalene, with an e, which is a lipid or fat that is produced by our own bodies and also by plants like olives, sugar cane, palm trees and weirdly enough, shark livers. In fact, until recently, sharks were the main source of squalene destined for the beauty industry. Because of the obvious ethical issues, most cosmetic companies have moved on towards using squalene derived from plants.
However, because squalene is an unsaturated oil, it’s unstable and goes rancid quite fast.
Bring in squalene with an a, which is a saturated oil formed when squalene goes through a hydrogenation process to make it nice and stable, with a long shelf life.
Why use squalane?
As mentioned before, squalene is produced by our own bodies to hydrate and maintain the barrier on our skin. It’s also a natural antioxidant, helping to protect your skin against carcinogens. But as we grow older, our production of squalene slows down.
It only makes sense that it can be greatly beneficial to replenish our skins with a naturally occurring emollient that mimics our own skin’s oils. Squalane helps firm up the skin, helps fight skin damage and can make your skin look more vibrant and radiant.
Who can use squalane?
The good news is that squalane is great for most skin types, from dry to sensitive to oily – it’s wonderfully light and non-greasy and sinks into the skin fast. And because it seals in the moisture and regulates oil, it can even be used by people suffering from acne, eczema and even psoriasis.
How to use squalane?
You can make squalane part of your skin care routine on various levels:
- Because it’s so light and non-greasy (and odour-free), it makes an excellent moisturiser that plumps up the skin and makes it feel smooth and soothed.
- Use it on its own, or as a base for your usual moisturiser. Because squalane is so absorbent and really sinks into your skin, it does not form a barrier that hinders the penetration of other products.
- You can also add a drop of two to your foundation to up the moisturising levels.
- It works wonders as a lip balm – soothing dry and chapped lips.
- If you have irritated skin, apply the squalane – it’s very effective to soothe away redness and irritation.
- It has powerful antioxidant properties and won’t just protect your skin against age spots; it will even help fade existing spots and pigments.
When can you use squalane?
It’s easy to make squalane part of your skin care and remember, a little goes a long way. So, as part of your daily routine, morning and night, here’s a suggestion on how to use it:
- Cleanse your skin.
- Apply your toner.
- Apply your serum or moisturiser and eye creams.
- Now apply your squalane.
Note: Some people prefer to apply squalane BEFORE they moisturize, some prefer to apply it AFTER. We suggest trying both these options and choose the one that feels best for you.
