The skin care world is vast and constantly full of new products and buzzy ingredients to talk about. Sometimes the hype is, well, just that. Other times, however, the chatter is rightfully deserved.
Squalene, a natural substance your body produces to keep your skin lubricated, falls into the latter category, according to dermatologists we spoke to. Squalene can moisturize the skin and help keep your complexion feeling soft and smooth while also delivering anti-inflammatory benefits and calming redness and inflammation, says Dr. Marisa Garshick , a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Cornell.
Many skin care products on the market today actually use squalane in place of squalene. Squalane — with an “a” — is another form of squalene with similar moisturizing benefits. Squalane is either made by adding hydrogen to squalene or it’s derived directly from plants.
It also has a longer shelf life than squalene, which is why it’s commonly used in skin care products. To help you determine if your skin could benefit from the extra moisture that squalene provides, we spoke to board-certified dermatologists about its benefits, who should use it and the best serums, moisturizers and oils you can buy with it. SKIP AHEAD How we picked the best squalene products in 2024 | The best squalene products in 2024 | Squalene versus squalane | Why trust NBC Select? We spoke with board-certified dermatologists about their favorite.