Benefits Of Squalane For Skin And Hair Hydration & Repair

For the uninitiated, squalene and squalane may look and sound the same, but true skin and beauty enthusiasts know the difference and importance of both. If you are in the former category, read ahead to know the differences, benefits, risks, uses, and more.

An ingredient that has been creating quite a stir in the realm of skin and hair care is squalane. This immense, almost overnight popularity of squalane can be attributed to A-listers like Kate Hudson and Reese Witherspoon singing praises of the workhorse for smooth, hydrated skin. But should you strive to introduce this activity into your already elaborate skincare regimen? Let’s find out! Before we break down the benefits of squalane for skin (we will address how it benefits the hair some other time), we walk you through a quick overview of this comparatively new skincare component and how it is different from squalene (with an E)!

You may be tempted to consider squalane and squalene the same after learning about their very minor differences, but for a true skincare connoisseur, the tiny difference makes up for the world. The subtle contrast is not just important to consider for your skin, but also for your pocket and long-term sustainability. While one is naturally occurring, the other is a chemically hydrogenated version that stops squalane from oxidising, making it more viable in the longer run, helping you use this ingredient for a prolonged duration. So, without further ado, let’s learn what is squalane, the benefits of squalane, and how to use squalane.

Difference Between Squalane And Squalene

As much as you detest the layer of oil sitting atop the dermis after a long nap or a couple of minutes outdoors – it is indispensable to a healthy microbiome. That’s right, a requisite quantity of oil churned by the sebaceous glands keeps the skin moisturised, supple and the acid mantle, intact. This oil alias, sebum composition is predominated by Triglycerides, and fatty acids along with wax, squalene (with an E, discussed ahead) and so forth. Naturally present in the body, the measure of squalene slackens as one age – which requires us to replenish and restore this ingredient into the skin via an external means.

However, before you jump the gun – don’t confuse this naturally occurring lipid, squalene with the ingredient plastered on bottles of serums and face oils. Squalene (with an E) in its natural form, is prone to getting oxidized. To make it more shelf-friendly without compromising on the potency, squalene undergoes the process of hydrogenation (or saturation for the unversed) to become squalane (without an E!) The new celeb-adored beauty ingredient has been gracing many-a serums and face oil concoctions.

Benefits Of Squalane For Your Skin

Now that you are well-versed in the origin story of squalane – we take you through its many benefits. This fragrance-free, transparent active has been deemed safe for all skin types but works like a miracle on people with dehydrated skin. However, as we always advise our readers, don’t forget to do a patch test of your formulation of choice before carving a place for it in your vanity. Now without any further ado, a bulleted list of squalane benefits, hand-in-hand with our top product recommendations:

1. Squalane Works Like A Miracle On Dry Skin

As the saturated oil apes the structure and properties of the epidermis’ natural sebum, slathering a squalane-infused product will help keep your skin moisturized. If you are someone who grapples with dry skin, place your trust in the squalane Pilgrim Glow Moisturizer. The lightweight, exquisitely creamy formulation infuses beautifully into the skin to keep it taut and dreamy smooth! The product which is 100% safe, vegan and chemical-free, also features Niacinamide and Vitamin C for brightening and firming.

2. Works Well For Reducing Fine Line And Wrinkles

The nourishing element is also a potent antioxidant, which helps protect the skin from oxidative damage and adeptly reduces the appearance of pesky lines and wrinkles. If the onset of fine lines has bogged down your spirit, we recommend the squalane-infused serum from the Canadian Cult Classic brand, The Ordinary. The infallible offering is non-comedogenic and serves as a hero hydrator and diminishes the fine lines.

3. Squalane Bolsters The Health Of Your Skin Barrier

We know that an impaired skin barrier equates to inevitable damage in the form of tightness, inflammation and flaky skin. To uphold and maintain the acid mantle, it is essential to prevent transepidermal loss in all ways, shapes and forms. This is where the squalane comes into the picture – the element forms a proactive layer atop the dermis and helps to double down efforts for a healthy barrier. To aid you in this endeavour, we are recommending Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream With Glacial Glycoprotein and Olive-derived squalane. The cloud light cream adroitly hydrates the epidermis and strengthens the barrier against probable external aggressors. It features the star ingredient, squalane in a plant-based form derived from olives.

4. Squalane Is An Ideal Match For Acne-Prone Or Inflamed Skin

If you are wary of lathering a squalane-infused serum into your skincare routine – pause and think again. The active which apes the natural oil produced by the skin, can curtail the sebaceous glands from working their way into an overdrive. Additionally, the non-condomogenic and anti-inflammatory properties make squalane quite the hit amongst people with oily or acne-prone skin. We are recommending the Minimalist 100% squalane Facial Oil For Moisturizing & Reducing Fine Lines. The serum is non-fragrant, devoid of oils and dyes and won’t aggravate pre-existing acne or acne-related concerns.

5. Squalane Increases Your Skin’s Elasticity And Gives It An Unparalleled Glow

No makeup can unlock the glow emanated by healthy skin. So, if your skin has been looking dull and beat, bearing the brunt of external factors – might we suggest investing in a Sqaulane-based product? squalane is an excellent emollient which sits tight on the skin, refusing moisture to escape. The light active seeps deep and works at a cellular level to improve the texture and elasticity of the skin. And don’t even get us started on the ludicrously bright shine imparted by the element, but doesn't feel greasy or icky. We are recommending inde wild 1% Bakuchiol Serum With Squalane to help your skin realize its latent radiance. The luxurious concentrate, founded by Indian-origin, beauty-influencer Diipa Khosla, refreshes and rejuvenates the skin, teamed with a dewy effect.

Benefits Of Squalane For Your Hair

If you thought squalane was only for the skin, then you should think again. Because the benefits of squalane go beyond just our face and skin, it also benefits the hair and the scalp. Derived from natural sources, squalane is lightweight and reduces grease, which means it can remove grease from our oily scalps as well, making it highly beneficial for the hair as well. Here are some key benefits of squalane for hair.

Deeply Hydrates: Squalane reduces oil and locks in moisture. It prevents dryness and is thus excellent if you have a dry and flaky scalp.

Makes Hair Manageable:Since it reduces oil and locks in moisture, squalane smoothens hair strands and slackens friction causing your hair to be soft, smooth, and manageable.

Adds Shine:Squalane adds a natural shine and gloss to your hair without weighing it down and adding life to lacklustre hair.

Strengthens Hair: By reducing dryness and excess oil, it minimises hair fall and improves the scalp barrier, thus strengthening the hair follicles.

Heat Protection: Squalane adds a layer of moisture to the hair strands creating a lightweight barrier that aids in protection during thermal damage caused due to styling.

Here are squalane-infused products for the hair.

Nykaa Recommends:

Squalane For Acne & Oily Skin

Squalane is a lightweight, non-comedogenic, and naturally-produced oil that imitates the skin’s naturally produced sebum. This property of squalane makes it an excellent ingredient for acne and oily skin. Here are a few reasons why squalane works for people with oily and acne-prone skin.

Non-Comedogenic: Unlike other oils, squalane is lightweight and regulates oil production that doesn’t clog your pores.

Anti-Inflammatory: Squalane also has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce swelling and redness caused due to inflammation.

Gentle Cleansing: Squalane also gently cleanses your pores by entering into the deeper layers of your skin and unclogging your pores.

Controls Oil: Squalane also controls excess oil production and minimises acne breakouts and excess grease on the skin.

Squalane For Eczema

Squalane is anti-inflammatory in nature and thus reduces common symptoms of sensitive skin such as eczema, irritation, redness, inflammation, itchiness, and more. It soothes the skin and hydrates extremely dry skin without clogging the pores. It reduces any flaring up of the skin and dry patches that can lead to scratching and itching. Using squalane-infused products can calm your skin down and hydrate it to soothe from within.

Risks Of Using Squalane

Even when skincare products are deemed safe, there will be a chance of irritation or an allergic reaction. Avoid applying it to a lot of body parts at once, if you are using squalane for the first time. Or conduct a patch test first.

To make sure you are not allergic, test the oil or serum on a small area of skin, such as your inner arm, chest, or lower thigh to see how it reacts. If you see your flare-up and there is any redness, then you might be allergic, if your skin is unaffected after the first few times, you can go ahead and use squalane.

Use plant-based squalane rather than animal-based squalane as there are chances it will have lesser side-effects and it will also be better for the planet. Make sure to opt for oils that are entirely plant-derived when purchasing squalane, which won’t be that difficult because that is the norm in the skincare industry.

Parting Thoughts

When you rejuvenate your skin with ingredients already present in your skin, it only helps your skin restore better and faster. One such ingredient is squalane, a hydrogenated version of squalene which is a naturally occurring oil in our skin cells. It not only controls oil and locks in moisture, but it is also non-comedogenic and anti-inflammatory in nature. It is suitable for all skin types as it controls oil, hydrates, and soothes skin.

FAQs

What is Squalane?

Squalane is a hydrogenated version of a naturally occurring oil called squalene. It controls oil, hydrates, moisturises, and soothes skin. It increases the shelf-life of squalene which can get oxidised over time and thus go bad. It helps all skin types since it is derived from an oil that is already present in our skin cells.
How to use squalane?

You can use squalane in the form of oil or serum that you can apply to your face, hair, and body. It unclogs pores, hydrates skin, and soothes skin, thus making it suitable for all skin types.
What are some benefits of squalane?

Since squalane mimics the natural oils of the skin, it hydrates the skin, but it also doesn’t clog pores and helps control excess oil and sebum production. It also reduces fine lines and wrinkles and soothes any inflammation and redness. It’s non-comedogenic and improves skin elasticity on the face and scalp.
What are some side effects of squalane?

Squalane shouldn’t give you any trouble unless your skin is allergic to external squalane. We still recommend conducting a patch test on your inner arm or chest area to see if there are any flares or redness when using it for the first time.
What are some good squalane products?

Here are some good squalane products to try: