You may have heard about the benefits of squalene when it comes to skin care. There are a few things you should know about this ingredient and its different versions.
What is squalene?
Our bodies produce squalene naturally. is a “sebum” found in human skin that helps elasticity and contributes to a youthful appearance. Like collagen, your skin has plenty of squalene when you’re born, but levels decrease as you age.
Squalene, which occurs naturally in humans, has naturally moisturizing properties. It has the ability to attract oxygen, transport it to the deeper layers of your skin and accelerate the growth of new cells.
Unfortunately, as your squalene stores decrease, your skin can become dry. This is why it is sought after as an ingredient in skin care.
Squalene also occurs naturally in a few other sources. The first is sharks, with shark skin used for many years to make skin supplements. At one stage, millions of sharks were killed each year to produce squalene-based products. Fortunately, the beauty industry has now caught up and you’ll find that the practice happens a lot less (although you should always read the bottle to see if shark products are used).
The other sources of squalene that can be used more ethically are sugarcane and olives. For this article, we will focus on olive squalene as we believe it is the best option. This is because squalane derived from sugar cane is synthetic and requires, among other things, the use of genetically modified microorganisms. We are also aware of the numerous heavy environmental and social costs that accompany sugarcane cultivation in Brazil, which is the main source of sugarcane-derived squalene. Olive-derived squalane is much more sustainably sourced and produced.
The benefits of squalene in skin care
There are a few different sources and ways to use squalene. Before we explain them, here are some quick benefits of using this product in your skin care:
- Squalene helps hydrate your skin, helping it look healthier and plumper
- Using squalene can boost natural collagen production, which gives you firmer, more youthful looking skin
- The antioxidants in squalene can help fight skin damage and free radicals
- Reducing free radicals can help fight the aging process
- Squalene mimics our body’s natural moisturizer and quickly penetrates deep into the skin
- When applied regularly to the skin, squalene protects against moisture loss and environmental toxins by acting as a barrier.
Squalene can also help alleviate skin conditions such as:
- inflammatory acne
- eczema
- psoriasis
- dermatitis
- Rosacea
For skin that is brighter and looks healthier, regular use of a quality squalene serum can make a big difference.
Squalene vs squalane
Did you spot the difference?
Squalene (with an ‘e’) is the polyunsaturated hydrocarbon produced by your body, specifically your liver. Released from the sebaceous glands in your skin and scalp, it acts as a guardian for protection and hydration.
Olive Squalene is nature’s most biocompatible plant active in achieving optimal skin health. Almost identical in structure to the Squalene found in human skin, it is instantly RECOGNIZED by your skin and quickly absorbed to provide long-lasting hydration. Olive Squalene in its purest high-quality extract (99%+ action contained in Botáni products), it strikes at the heart of the anti-aging process and is known to provide other key benefits such as reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, scars and stretch marks, as well as significantly enhancing skin hydration in less than 30 minutes.
As an active ingredient, Olive Squalene tends to have a shorter shelf life, which is why it is combined with Vitamin C & E in the Olive Skin Serum for extended wear, to avoid the use of parabens or artificial preservatives.
Olive Squalane it is derived through a hydrogenation/refining process of oleosqualene, and during this process, it loses its active ingredient and becomes a carrier oil (like Jojoba oil). While some claimed falsely Olive Squalane offers a bunch of benefits for the skin, its real purpose in skin care formulations is simply to act as a delivery system for other important active ingredients to do their job… NOT as a main active like Olive Squalene, which is why we use both ingredients, but for very different purposes.
As an inactive ingredient, Olive Squalane does not oxidize, which is why we use it in water-based creams and lotions for antioxidant purposes rather than skin benefits.
Ethical squalene products from Botani
Botani strictly does not support the use or production of animal products or synthetic chemicals. Therefore, we only use olive-derived squalene (derived from organically grown Greek olives) in our formulations.
While some commercially available squalene oils and supplements still come from shark liver, we’re turning to the humble olive. Olive squalene is made using sustainable production methods that use the whole olive and minimize waste.
Sustainable, vegan, certified organic active olive squalene is bottled in eco-friendly amber bottles in Melbourne. It is made from 100% phyto-active organic olive squalene. This healing, hydrating serum is clinically proven to increase and seal in your skin’s moisture levels within 24 hours.
Olive Squalene is one of nature’s most biocompatible phytoactive ingredients for achieving optimal skin health. Almost identical in structure to the squalene found in human skin, it is instantly recognized by your skin. This means it absorbs quickly to provide long-lasting hydration.
For a better product, you need more concentration. Olive Squalene in its purest high quality extraction to hit the core defying age edit, process. Use this serum to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and significantly boost skin hydration.
For a multipurpose moisturizer that’s all natural and ethically sourced, look no further Botani’s Olive Skin Serum.
