It's Time to Make Squalane Part of Your Skin Care Squad 🙏🏼

Your skincare routine has the power to do more than just help keep your face clean, bright, and beautiful. It also has the power to help protect our precious home, planet Earth.

Let’s be real: there are SO many different oils, serums, cleansers, and other products out there that promise to address all of your problem areas. But from long lists of unpronounceable ingredients to harmful packaging, finding the right solution for your unique skin and values sometimes just feels impossible. 

So how do you sort through it all to find the right one? A good place to start is to look for products with minimal quality, sustainable ingredients that support your skin goals.

And if your goal is visibly clearer skin while helping preserve the planet, let us introduce you to the ingredient you should look to add to your skincare squad: Squalane.

What is Squalane?

This incredible ingredient has gone under the radar for a long time, so you’re probably wondering, “What is squalane?”

Squalane is a moisturizing ingredient made from a naturally occurring substance called squalene. Squalene can be found in all sorts of plants, eggs, and even your own body! 

It is the best natural and sustainable plant-based skin soother out there. You can find it in all sorts of skin-care products from sunscreen to lip gloss thanks to its moisturizing and anti-microbial properties.

So now that you know a little more about what squalane is, let’s run through what squalane does for your skin and how it helps you get the clear complexion you’re looking for.

The Difference Between Squalane & Squalene

If you’ve poked around and looked into what squalane is before, odds are you’ve also come across squalene.

While they both provide incredible benefits, there are some key differences to be aware of between these similar-sounding oils. 

Squalene

Squalene-- that’s with an extra E instead of an A -- is a naturally-occurring, polyunsaturated hydrocarbon that’s found in many types of fish oil. 

Abundant in many living organisms, squalene is also found in the human body in small quantities.

This oil is created in your liver and is found in your blood and your skin. However, the amount of it in your body goes down as you get older – especially after age 30.

This naturally occurring substance helps keep your skin hydrated and healthy while repairing damage.

As incredible of an ingredient as it is, squalene is a heavier product, so it’s not always suited for oily complexions. Squalene is also commonly harvested from shark liver, not making it the friendliest to the environment. It also spoils when it’s exposed to oxygen, which is why you won’t be able to find much of it in skincare products.

That's where squalane comes in.

Squalane

Scientists and product developers figured out a way to get the incredible benefits of squalene while also making it shelf-stable through the process of hydrogenation.

Squalane is a hydrogenated version of squalene. This means that because squalane contains hydrogen, it doesn’t react with oxygen in the same way as squalene. And this makes it possible to use squalane in skincare products, like our Clear + Control.

Squalane does a lot for your skin, as it offers all of the same awesome benefits as squalene, with the added perk that it can actually be included in your daily routine without you having to worry about it spoiling. 

What Does Squalane Do For Skin?

Squalane is a multifaceted ingredient that delivers results while being gentle on your skin... and, as an added bonus, the environment. 

One of the main benefits squalane does for skin is that it serves as a carrier oil to help shuttle other skincare ingredients -- like CBG, a plant-based molecule with anti-inflammatory properties -- into your skin so that they can get to the root source of inflammation.

According to Dr. Mamina, also known as the ‘Tik Tok Skin Doc,’ “Squalane shuttles the CBG deep into the skin where the healing can take place.”

Squalane isn’t just a carrier oil for other ingredients, though. Other squalane oil benefits include reducing inflammation and redness and keeping your skin moisturized.

Not to mention squalane is also microbiome friendly, meaning, it won’t disrupt the delicate balance of bacteria and other living organisms that are essential to your skin’s health.

4 Benefits of Squalane for Skin and Overall Health

Now that you know a little more about Squalane and where it comes from, let’s take a look at all the ways it can treat your skin and help you live your best, healthiest life!

1. Moisturizes

A lot of problem area treatments and skincare products revolve around trying to prevent pimples and bumps from popping up. Most of these products, though, just leave people with dry, irritated skin without addressing the root cause of their skin problems.

Squalane, on the other hand, doesn’t include any harsh additives and naturally keeps your skin hydrated and moisturized, without being so oily that it will clog your pores.

Skin-care developers are turning to it more and more thanks to its ability to keep your skin hydrated without feeling heavy, making it a great additional moisturizer for every skin type.

2. Reduces Redness

Red splotchy skin can wear on your confidence and create a cycle of regularly wearing makeup that might irritate your skin even more. If you’re looking for a bit more of an even, less red skin tone, squalane can help with that too!

Squalane could be the silver bullet to helping reduce redness thanks to its hydrating benefits, anti-oxidant powers, and its ability to help carry other helpful ingredients deep into your skin.

3. Improves Skin Texture

Next to redness, texture and pimples are the next biggest concerns people have when it comes to their skin.

Regular use of squalane-based products can help smooth out your skin’s texture whether you want to focus on wrinkles, scars, or bumps. This helps your natural skin shine through so that you can feel like your best self. 

4. Lightweight

It can be so difficult to find a product that not only moisturizes your skin but is also lightweight enough that it won’t make you break out. A lot of the moisturizers and oils on the market are heavy and not ideal for breakout-prone skin.

Squalane is non-comedogenic, meaning that it’s not likely to clog your pores. It’s a fantastic option for all skin types thanks to its ability to be incredibly nourishing while still extremely light.

Bonus Benefit: Squalane is Eco-Friendly

You’re now well versed on squalane oil benefits, and what makes it a great ingredient in skincare products, but there’s another huge plus to it.

While squalene and squalane share a lot of the same benefits, the one big differentiator between the two is their impact on the environment.

Squalene is typically derived from shark liver. Sharks play a huge role in the ecosystem of our oceans, and the entire planet.

As you can imagine, using an ingredient that depends on sharks is not ideal for the longevity of our planet, and simply isn’t sustainable.

Luckily there are so many ways to reap the benefits of squalene without compromising the planet.

Instead of sourcing squalene from something like sharks, squalane is a more sustainable, cruelty-free way to harness the power of these ingredients, without harming animals and creating a ripple effect on the environment.

Terasana, for example, derives our squalane from a much more sustainable source – sugarcane! Our plant-derived squalane is fermented from sustainably harvested Brazilian sugarcane to help provide a natural, better for the planet skincare solution.

We use this form of squalane to help become part of the solution to saving your skin and planet Earth.

We take the planet into account every step of the way from sourcing ingredients, to manufacturing, to packaging. When we source our sugarcane it helps support the overall environment during the process, so you can rest assured that it’s eco-friendly!

How to Include Squalane in Your Skin Care Routine

Nature is full of solutions when it comes to your skincare problems. 

Whether you’re looking for anti-aging support, to reduce redness and inflammation, or are looking for a lightweight moisturizing product that packs a punch, squalane is one of the best things you can incorporate into your routine.

Looking for affordable, clean products doesn’t have to be hard, either! A good place to start is to look for products that help your skin absorb the maximum benefits squalane has to offer, like a serum to use after cleansing your face.

Plant-derived squalane comes from an abundant plant source, which also makes it more affordable and easier to access no matter what your budget is.