SO, WHAT IS SQUALANE!?

First and foremost, you need to know the difference between Squalane and Squalene to get to grips with the basics. Squalane (with an A)  is a derivative of squalene (with an E); it’s a hydrogenated version that’s lighter, plus has a longer shelf-life than squalene, which is why it’s such a skincare staple and a beauty product regular. 

But what exactly is squalene? Well, it’s a natural lipid that’s produced by the oil glands in our skin. Essentially it is a fat that helps keep our skin hydrated whilst maintaining a healthy, strong skin barrier. Unfortunately for us, the body's natural squalene supply starts to decline with age, so bottled up - this is where Squalane comes in. 

Originally sourced from animals, squalene in today’s industry is mainly found through plant and vegetable sources, but due to its instability in its pure state, it’s combined with hydrogen to form the stable squalane we know and love in our beauty products today.

Needless to say, all ingredients found in our products are, of course, in line with our accreditation by The Vegan Society and ethical stance, as we are 100% against animal cruelty in any form and know that there are always healthy, vegan alternatives to help us achieve our skin goals. 

 

HERE’S WHY SQUALANE IS A LUNEIA-APPROVED SKINCARE ESSENTIAL

It gives us natural feeling moisture

Squalane is light and easily absorbed by the skin, which means those good moisture levels still feel natural and easy to work into your daily routine. Being such a super absorbable ingredient with a minuscule molecular weight, Squalane prevents water loss, keeping your complexion looking plump all day.

It’s here to help your skin’s barrier

As well as locking in moisture, Squalane is an antioxidant that helps repair the skin’s lipid barrier and shields your skin from external environmental aggressors like pollution and UV light.

It helps you reach your dewy skin goals

Squalane also helps increase the skin’s bounce and luminosity, serving you a vibrant, healthy complexion. Alongside this, it gets to work on visible signs of ageing, fine lines and wrinkles and can reduce skin redness. 

It gives your skincare staples a hydration boost

Squalane helps the rest of your skincare ingredients thrive. 

It does this by making sure the rest of your product’s ingredients are easily absorbed, giving them a smooth and spreadable texture that helps them melt effortlessly into your skin. Alongside these emollient characteristics, Squalane also possesses some very similar qualities to the Squalene in your skin, meaning that it gels well with your natural oils. 

HOW DOES SQUALANE WORK WITH THE REST OF MY ROUTINE?

Squalane works well to give the majority of your skincare ingredients a boost, helping them to absorb well into the skin so you can really make the most of their benefits. 

One of the reasons it gels so well with the rest of your skincare ingredients is that its lightweight texture allows it to blend with them, rather than compete with or chemically interact with their makeup.

For this reason, you will most often see Squalane built into your skincare products, like it’s perfect partnership with both Vitamin E and Prickly Pear Seed Oil in our Radiance Ritual Glow Mask, to give them that extra emollient boost, rather than use them as a stand alone product. But if you opt to use Squalane oil - remember to layer! It should be used after your serum and before your moisturiser so that it can penetrate the skin and give you the hydration hit that  you’re after. 

Squalane is one of the magic ingredients in our Radiance Ritual Glow Mask, showing its easy to apply, creamy yet light texture. 

SO, SHOULD I BE USING SQUALANE?

Squalane's lightweight texture can be used for all skin types. The way that Squalane ‘locks in’ moisture is essential for fine lines and wrinkles. In the same light, it rehydrates dry skin, particularly if you're susceptible to regular patches of rough, dry texture or inflammation - making it a go-to for eczema sufferers. Squalane is not a common allergen and unlikely to cause irritation to even the most sensitive skin.

Its lightweight formula makes it perfect alternative to heavier hydrators for acne or blemish prone complexions, as it doesn’t clog pores or leave behind any greasy, oily residue once it’s been applied.