HuffPost: Squalene (And Squalane) Products1

Although coconut oil, shea butter and glycolic acid are some of the most commonly known skin care ingredients used to treat dry skin, you may have started to hear more and more about squalene (and a related ingredient called squalane), especially since this ingredient seems to be included in many hydrating creams and treatments from big-name brands.

Squalene (with an e) does have a younger sister with a similar name. Cosmetic scientist Shuting Hu told HuffPost that squalane (with an a) is a more stable derivation of squalene (meaning its shelf life is longer, and it won’t go rancid as quickly) that is created through a saturation process.

“This creates a longer shelf life by eliminating the factor of oxidation, and is usually the form used in skin care products,” she said. “This means it turns the squalene from an unsaturated oil into a 100% saturated oil, which is more efficacious in skin care products.”