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Botanical Index / everything about

Squalane

Lightweight, oxidation‑resistant emollient and delivery sidekick

Olea europaea (olive) or Saccharum officinarum (sugarcane)

Two near-identical twins, one wobbly and one steady, linked by a zigzag chain of beads.
Illustration

The short version

Squalane is the saturated cousin of squalene, prized for being stable and silky. People put it on skin and hair for slip, softness and to help other ingredients spread or sink in.

Family
Oleaceae or Poaceae, depending on source
Part used
Hydrogenated squalene from olive oil or fermented sugarcane
Comes from
Olive squalane mostly from the Mediterranean; sugarcane squalane from Brazil

Good for?

Common as a lightweight emollient and carrier. Lab and ex vivo work shows it can help keep antioxidants like vitamin E and some polyphenols in the skin, which is why formulators pair it with actives. Its saturated structure makes it far less prone to oxidation than squalene, so products stay stable. You’ll find it in serums, creams, masks, and even specialty delivery systems.

Does it actually work?

In a dish.

Promising in the lab. Nobody has tried it on people yet.

Evidence grade 1 out of 5.

“Most data are in vitro or ex vivo.”

What the studies say

Most data are in vitro or ex vivo. In human dermal fibroblasts, squalane reduced UVA‑related oxidative and inflammatory signals and supported collagen‑related pathways, but that is cell work, not clinical outcomes. Ex vivo skin studies suggest squalane can enhance dermal availability or retention of co‑formulated actives and can stabilize vitamin E in nanoemulsions. A moisturizer containing many ingredients including squalane improved hydration in adults with mild‑moderate atopic dermatitis, but squalane’s specific contribution cannot be isolated. Well‑controlled trials of squalane alone on skin outcomes are scarce.

A tiny scientist stands on a giant oil droplet between an olive branch and sugarcane.
Illustration

What's inside

  • Single‑ingredient material (sold as a neat oil)Squalane (2,6,10,15,19,23‑hexamethyltetracosane)Stable, saturated C30 hydrocarbon; the cosmetic ingredient itself, not a mixture.

Read this first

Generally well tolerated in studies and formulations. A squalane‑ and dimethicone‑based head‑lice product showed good skin acceptability in children with atopic skin. As with any new product, patch test first, and be cautious if you’re sensitive to any formula components.

The stories

2 in the Journal

Research Desk · Face oils

Face oils for oily skin: linoleic vs. oleic, ranked

The idea that 'linoleic oils are better for oily, acne-prone skin' rests largely on small lab studies and a few pilot clinical observations; the literature here is promising but mostly preclinical and frequently tests oils inside blends or nano‑formulations.

  • Skin

Index Explainer · Squalane

Squalane vs. squalene: the plant-derived moisturizer everyone mixes up

Squalene is a natural unsaturated lipid in skin oils that oxidizes; squalane is the hydrogenated, far more stable form used in cosmetics. The plant sources and stability issues behind that one-letter swap are mostly documented in laboratory and oil‑chemistry studies, with little direct human testing of squalane alone.

  • Skin

Reviewed

Sources

  1. Effect of Squalane as a Carrier in O/W Nanoemulsions for Dermal Delivery of Vitamin E. — de Souza AC, Sipoli CC, Samulewski RB, Raimundini Aranha AC, Defendi RO, Suzuki RM. · ACS omega · 2025
  2. Squalane as a Promising Agent Protecting UV-Induced Inhibition of Collagen Biosynthesis and Wound Healing in Human Dermal Fibroblast. — Wolosik K, Chalecka M, Gasiewska G, Palka J, Surazynski A. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
  3. Bioinspired ultra-fast dissolving core-sheath beaded-structured nanofibrous membranes via one-step emulsion electrospinning for skin moisturization. — Si Y, Li L, Jiang Y, Huang K, Zhang H, Zhu Z, Huang Z, Hu J, Yang L, Dong Z. · Materials horizons · 2026
  4. The Mechanism of Protective Action of Plant-Derived Squalane (2,6,10,15,19,23-Hexamethyltetracosane) Against UVA Radiation-Induced Apoptosis in Human Dermal Fibroblasts. — Wolosik K, Chalecka M, Gasiewska G, Palka J, Surazynski A. · Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
  5. Brood-Derived Fat Extracts from Apis mellifera as Sustainable Alternatives to Beeswax in Topical Nanostructured Lipid Carriers. — Samianpet P, Somwongin S, Phongphisutthinant R, Chaipoot S, Wiriyacharee P, Tima S, Anuchapreeda S, Juntrapirom S, Kanjanakawinkul W, Rades T, Chaiyana W. · Biology · 2026
  6. Effect of squalane-based emulsion on polyphenols skin penetration: Ex vivo skin study. — Oliveira ALS, Valente D, Moreira HR, Pintado M, Costa P. · Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces · 2022
  7. The Role of Moisturizer Containing Anti-inflammatory on Skin Hydration in Mild-Moderate Atopic Dermatitis Patients. — Prakoeswa CRS, Damayanti, Anggraeni S, Umborowati MA, Sari M, Hendaria MP, Thahir TF. · Dermatology research and practice · 2024
  8. Effectiveness and tolerability of a squalane and dimethicone-based treatment for head lice. — Martínez de Murguía Fernández L, Puig Algora G, Bajona Roig M, Bacchini G. · Parasitology research · 2021
  9. The ameliorative effect of hemp seed hexane extracts on the Propionibacterium acnes-induced inflammation and lipogenesis in sebocytes. — Jin S, Lee MY. · PloS one · 2018
  10. Cannabidiol exerts sebostatic and antiinflammatory effects on human sebocytes. — Oláh A, Tóth BI, Borbíró I, Sugawara K, Szöllõsi AG, Czifra G, Pál B, Ambrus L, Kloepper J, Camera E, Ludovici M, Picardo M, Voets T, Zouboulis CC, Paus R, Bíró T. · The Journal of clinical investigation · 2014
  11. Evaluation of a Retinol Nanoemulsion Gel Enriched with Black Seed and Rosehip Oils for Acne Management. — Reddy A, Ravichandran A, Magham SV. · Drug research · 2025
  12. Self-Nanoemulsion Loaded with a Combination of Isotretinoin, an Anti-Acne Drug, and Quercetin: Preparation, Optimization, and In Vivo Assessment. — Hosny KM, Al Nahyah KS, Alhakamy NA. · Pharmaceutics · 2020
  13. Unveiling the mechanisms for the development of rosehip-based dermatological products: an updated review. — Oargă Porumb DP, Cornea-Cipcigan M, Cordea MI. · Frontiers in pharmacology · 2024
  14. Safety Assessment of Rosa canina-derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics. — Johnson W, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD, Liebler DC, Marks JG, Shank RC, Slaga TJ, Snyder PW, Gill LJ, Heldreth B. · International journal of toxicology · 2022
  15. Evaluation of Biophysical Parameters of the Skin of Patients With Atopic Dermatitis After Application of an Ointment Containing 30% Cannabidiol and 5% Cannabigerol. — Burczyk DD, Wcisło-Dziadecka D, Olczyk P, Chełmecka E, Burczyk WK. · Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology · 2025
  16. CBD-Containing Hemp Extracts and Isolated CBD for Acne: A Systematic Review of Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms, Clinical Signals and Sustainability. — Komane B, Kaye T. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026