Squalane is the skincare oil with two very different backstories: one starts in a shark's liver, the other in an olive. They are chemically identical, so only the label tells you which is in the jar.
Animal sourceShark liver oil
Vegan sourceOlive, sugarcane, rice
VerdictCheck the source
Where it hides
Face oils and serums
Moisturisers and lip balms
Hair oils and foundations
Two sources, one molecule
Squalane is a light emollient prized in skincare. It is the stable, hydrogenated form of squalene, an oil that the body and many plants make. The complication is history: the original commercial source was sharks.
Primary source 01 / 02
Squalene was traditionally sourced from the livers of sharks, with approximately 3000 required to produce one ton of squalane
That figure, roughly three thousand sharks per ton, is why deep-sea shark squalene became a conservation flashpoint. The industry response was to change the feedstock.
Primary source 02 / 02
other sources such as olive oil, rice and sugar cane have been commercialized
Plant-derived squalane, most often from olives or fermented sugarcane, is now widely used and is chemically identical to the shark version. Because both exist, squalane is only vegan if the source is plant-based, so look for wording like plant-derived, olive-derived or sugarcane squalane, or a vegan mark.
LanolinLanolin is wool grease from sheep. No sheep is killed for it, but it is an animal product all the same, and it is the quiet source of most vitamin D3 on the shelf.
Glycerin / glycerol (E422)This sweet, syrupy workhorse shows up in everything from icing to toothpaste. It can be pressed from plant oil, rendered from animal fat, or built from petroleum, and E422 keeps the secret.
Frequently asked
Is squalane made from sharks?
It can be. Squalane was traditionally sourced from shark liver oil, and some still is. However, most cosmetic squalane is now plant-derived, from olives, sugarcane or rice, and is chemically identical. Only the source, not the molecule, differs.
How can I tell if squalane is vegan?
Look at the source description. Plant-derived, olive-derived or sugarcane squalane is vegan; squalane that does not specify a plant source, or lists a shark or marine origin, may be animal-derived. A vegan or cruelty-free certification confirms it.
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