What is squalane? Does squalane have any side effects?

We can see squalane among many skin care product ingredients, so what is squalane? What benefits does it bring to the skin? Does Squalane Have Any Side Effects?

What is Squalane?

Squalane is squalene extracted from the liver of deep-sea sharks. It is produced through hydrogenation to become a hydrocarbon oil, also known as "deep-sea shark liver oil". Squalane is one of the rare animal fats with high chemical stability and excellent feel. It has good affinity to the skin, low polarity and medium spreadability.

Benefits of Squalane for Skin

Squalane can form a natural barrier on the skin surface to prevent moisture loss. Secondly, it provides oxygen to the skin, allowing it to penetrate better into the skin, delaying skin aging and also playing a certain role in improving chloasma. It then promotes skin metabolism, repairs damaged cells, improves red blood streaks, and can also be used for after-sun repair. At the same time, it also has strong moisturizing and nourishing properties, improves the skin's elasticity, and makes the skin more lustrous.

Does Squalane Have Any Side Effects?

If there is any side effect, it is that it is not recommended for acne-prone skin, but there are no other side effects. Squalane is one of the rare animal fats with high chemical stability and excellent feel. It has good affinity to the skin, does not cause allergies or irritation, and can accelerate the penetration of other active ingredients in the formula into the skin.

Existence and extraction of squalane

Squalane is mainly found in the unsaponifiable part of shark liver oil, and in small amounts in olive oil, rice bran oil, wheat germ oil, yeast and human fat. It is found in the livers of various sharks, with the highest content in the liver oil of deep-sea blue sharks. Squalane can be extracted from shark liver or prepared by the Wittig reaction of two molecules of trans-geranyl acetone and 1,4-diphenyltriphenylphosphine.