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Experts say this ingredient is key for mature, sensitive or eczema-prone skin

One letter makes all the difference.
TODAY / Kara Birnbaum

Why should you use squalane? | Best squalane products | More to try | FAQs | Meet the exerts

Skin care shelves nowadays are filled to the brim with products plastered with buzzy ingredients. From ceramides to azelaic acid, it can be a daunting task trying to decipher what any of it actually means. But if you're regularly keeping tabs on new beauty drops, you might already recognize skin care’s latest buzzword: squalane.

If you’re rolling your eyes or releasing a deep sigh at the thought of having to do research on yet another ingredient (and whether or not it actually works), you can refrain this time around. Shop TODAY did the work for you and asked two dermatologists to break down everything there is to know about the latest ingredient in the skin care hot seat.

Shop TODAY Snapshot

What are the benefits of squalane?

Our bodies experience a lot of changes as we age, one of which is less sebum excretion (which means less squalane excretion), board-certified dermatologist Dr. Alison Ehrlich says. She goes on to explain that squalane falls under an emollient classification, which means its main function is to hydrate.

"It makes the skin smoother when there’s less scales and you’re putting something oily on the skin,” she summarizes.

Best squalane products

Best budget-friendly product with squalane:

Size: 1.7 fl oz | Key ingredients: Squalane, glycerin

If you’re new to squalane and want to give it a go without investing too much into one product, look no further than this budget-friendly cleanser from The Ordinary where it’s the star ingredient. It also acts as a makeup remover, making your nighttime skin care routine one step lighter.

Best under-eye serum with squalane:

Size: 0.5 oz | Key ingredients: Squalane, niacinamide, caffeine, glycerin

Associate editor Shannon Garlin likes this eye serum that’s meant to be applied underneath eye cream to help give it a boost. “I wake up looking more alive and my under eyes feel softer,” she raves.

Best squalane product for face and body:

Size: 6 oz | Key ingredients: Squalane, colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, licorice root extract, ceramides

“I use this when my skin is feeling really dry and dehydrated and it drinks it up,” raves Garlin. She likes that it can be used for the face and body.

Best makeup product with squalane:

Size: 1 fl oz | Key ingredients: Squalane, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, niacinamide, avocado oil, safflower seed oil | Shades: 12

While squalane is a popular ingredient in traditional skin care products, it can also be found in makeup like this skin tint from Summer Fridays. It’s packed with other good-for-your-skin ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and safflower and avocado oils.

Best for dry skin:

Size: 1.7 fl oz | Key ingredients: Squalane, glycerin, sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, safflower seed oil, avocado oil, rosemary leaf extract

Associate editor Emma Stessman loves this moisturizer for her dry skin. “My skin gets pretty dry, especially this time of the year, but I haven’t had any issues since I started using this moisturizer daily,” she says. “I use it in the morning, because it doesn’t feel too heavy — so it wears well under makeup/SPF and leaves my skin feeling hydrated for the day.”

More squalane products to try

Best squalane oil:


Size: 1 fl oz | Key ingredients: Plant-derived squalane

If you're looking for the purest form of the ingredient, try this affordable oil-like serum from The Ordinary that rings in at just $10. According to the brand's description, you can also use it on hair for heat protection, added shine and reduced potential breakage.

Best for combination skin:


Size: 1.7 fl oz | Key ingredients: Squalane, glycerin, jojoba, hyaluronic acid

This Honest Beauty cream is formulated with two sizes of hyaluronic acid, jojoba esters and squalane to provide you with ample hydration. "It feels heavy and luxurious out of the jar and then literally melts into your skin for a lightweight hydrating moisturizer, absolutely perfect for my combination oily skin," raved one Ulta reviewer.

Best makeup-removing squalane product:

Size: 3.3 fl oz | Key ingredients: Squalane, glycerin, aloe leaf extract

The brand describes this face wash as a multitasking product that “gently melts away makeup, removes impurities, and hydrates for clean, balanced skin.” Shoppers seem to agree as the Amazon reviews are filled with praise about how well it works on their skin, how good it feels and even the smell!

Best overnight product with squalane:

Size: 2.3 fl oz | Key ingredients: Squalane, glycerin

If your skin is desperate for hydration, look no further than this overnight mask that does all the work for you while you get some beauty sleep. One verified five-star Amazon reviewer said this sleep mask “changed their life.”

Best face cream:


Size: 1.7 fl oz | Key ingredients: Squalane, glycerin, avocado oil, sunflower seed oil, rosemary leaf extract

Squalane and glycerin are the key players in this facial cream from Kiehl's. It's fragrance-free and boasts up to 24 hours of hydration. A fan-favorite, it has more than 4,000 five-star reviews on the brand's site.

Best body cream:


Size: 8 fl oz | Key ingredients: Plant squalane, plant-based collagen, glycerin, shea butter, rosemary leaf extract, sunflower seed oil

From the brand best known for their popular Brazilian Bum Bum Cream comes this Beija Flor Elasti-Cream that is formulated with collagen and squalane to help keep skin plump and hydrated. It's perfect for using all over your body to keep everything soft and bouncy.

Best lightweight tinted serum:


Size: 1 fl oz | Key ingredients: Squalane, hyaluronic acid, peptides, glycerin, sunflower seed oil | Shades: 14

A tinted serum is perfect for the person looking for light coverage. This option from Rose Inc comes in a range of shades with varying undertones and keeps skin care front of mind by including squalane and sodium hyaluronate — a derivative of hyaluronic acid — in the formula.

Best for skin barrier repair:


Size: 1.6 oz | Key ingredients: Squalane, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, shea butter, jojoba

Squalane is a major player in all Biossance products, so it's no surprise to find them on this list. This moisturizer is a hit amongst shoppers and also contains ceramides and fatty acids to strengthen and repair the skin's moisture barrier, according to the brand.

Meet the experts

  • Dr. Jessica Labadie, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified and fellowship-trained cosmetic, surgical and general dermatologist in New York City. She is also the director of Lasers and Cosmetic Surgery in the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai.
  • Dr. Alison Ehrlich, MD, MHS, is a board-certified dermatologist in Washington D.C. She specializes in cosmetic dermatology and the diagnosis and treatment of allergic contact dermatitis and psoriasis.