A saturated hydrocarbon emollient used to soften skin and improve product spread.
Sources: 1No alternative names recorded.
Not assessed
No pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific assessment has been completed for this record. A cosmetic safety review is not a pregnancy rating.
Not assessed
Squalane
What it does
Adds slip and helps reduce a dry, rough feel. It is a different material from the more unsaturated squalene.
Sources: 1Good for
- Dry-feeling skin
- Emollient moisturizers
- Improved spread and slip
How to use it
Use the finished moisturizer or emollient product as directed; this supporting ingredient needs no separate routine step.
Sources: 1Who should be careful
A finished oil or moisturizer can still cause an individual reaction. Neither a universal non-comedogenic guarantee nor an acne treatment claim follows from squalane alone.
Sources: 1Pairs well with
No supported pairings have been documented for this record.
Usage, safety and formulation details
Mechanism of action
Its hydrophobic structure provides emollience; saturation makes it less prone to oxidation than squalene under comparable conditions.
Sources: 1Potential adverse effects
Individual irritation or intolerance is possible; the behavior of the complete formula matters more than a universal comedogenic score.
Sources: 1Formulation considerations
Source, purity, oxidation control and the complete lipid blend matter. A plant-derived claim does not replace material specifications.
Sources: 1Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Not assessed
No pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific assessment has been completed for this record. A cosmetic safety review is not a pregnancy rating.
Safety tags
- Fragrance allergen
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- Essential oil
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- Drying alcohol
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- May irritate sensitive skin
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
What remains uncertain
- Exact concentration, final pH and the full composition of any unprovided finished product
Clinical evidence and research
Clinical evidence
Evidence for its main benefitNot assessed
The cited references support identity, formulation role or safety context. No standalone clinical efficacy rating has been completed for the main benefit in this draft.
Sources: 1Regulation and ingredient label names
Regulatory information
No jurisdiction-specific assessment is recorded. An inventory listing is not blanket approval.
Names on ingredient lists
squalane
Chemical identity and molecular structure
Chemical information
Chemical structure
| Detail | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PubChem CID | 8089 | PubChem compound 8089: chemical identity |
| molecular formula | C30H62 | PubChem compound 8089: chemical identity |
| molecular weight | 422.8 g/mol | PubChem compound 8089: chemical identity |
Content updated 9 November 2026.
Sources (2)
Scientific sources
- CIR: Squalane and squalene assessment updatesafety assessment · 2023
- PubChem compound 8089: chemical identitychemical identity
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