Active ingredient
Squalane
INCI · Squalane
Squalane is the saturated, shelf-stable form of squalene, a lipid the skin produces naturally. It restores the lipid layer of the stratum corneum, supports barrier resilience, and softens the skin without occlusive heaviness. Pairs freely with all other actives. Non-comedogenic. No conflicts.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
No specific caution is known for cosmetic use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you are unsure, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Squalane is a hydrogenated form of an endogenous skin lipid. Mother to Baby flags no concern for cosmetic squalane use during pregnancy or lactation.
Mechanism in detail
What Squalane does
Skin-mimicking lipid derived from plant sources. Delivers barrier support and a non-greasy finish. Pairs well with Retinol to improve tolerability.
Evidence
What the research says
- 14 daysA moisturiser base with squalane in adults with eczema
A double-blind trial in 32 adults with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis compared two moisturisers on the same base, which contained squalane. Hydration rose about 38% with the base alone and 84% with added soothing actives.
A clinical study in patients, in a medical setting. It is shown for the science of the ingredient, not as an example of cosmetic use.
Read the studyDermatology Research and Practice 2024
Where it helps
Concerns Squalane addresses
Aging
The first time you notice it is rarely a wrinkle. It is a quality of light — the way your skin catches it differently in a morning mirror, or the photo where you look more tired than you feel. The mechanism is real (collagen synthesis slows; elastin fragments; barrier turnover lengthens), but the felt experience comes first. Serenity Age is the range BIOSAR built for that pivot — Retinol for visible renewal and collagen support, peptides selected for documented signaling activity, and the SPF discipline that protects every other active you apply.
Dryness
Dryness is a barrier dysfunction in which skin loses water faster than it can retain or replenish it, presenting as flaking, tightness, dullness, and roughness. Mild dryness reflects routine over-cleansing or environmental exposure; chronic dryness signals a deeper deficit in skin lipids (ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids) and humectant content (the natural moisturising factor). Effective treatment hydrates and replenishes the barrier through three layered actions: humectants that draw water in, occlusives that seal it in, and barrier actives that rebuild the lipid mortar. The BIOSAR Hydraderm range delivers this layered hydration and visibly plumps dehydrated skin.
Dullness
Dull skin is the visible loss of luminosity, where the surface appears flat, grey, or fatigued instead of light-reflective. The underlying causes are dead-cell accumulation on the stratum corneum, dehydration, microcirculation impairment, and oxidative stress. Effective treatment combines gentle exfoliation (alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids), antioxidant serums (vitamin C, niacinamide), barrier hydration, and consistent broad-spectrum SPF. Visible improvement typically arrives within two to four weeks of a structured routine, matching the natural cell-turnover cycle of healthy skin.
Sensitivity
If you have sensitive skin, you have probably been told it is in your head — by a product that says "gentle" on the label, by a friend whose skin tolerates everything yours cannot, sometimes by a professional who could not find a visible cause for the symptoms. It is not in your head. The mechanisms are measurable, the biology is mapped, and the care that follows from understanding them is what the Sensimed range was built around.
Sun Damage
Sun damage is the cumulative photoaging caused by ultraviolet radiation, presenting as solar lentigines, irregular pigmentation, fine lines, deeper wrinkles, leathery texture, and elevated skin cancer risk. UVA penetrates the dermis and drives collagen breakdown; UVB damages epidermal DNA and triggers melanin overproduction. Extrinsic factors, with UV exposure carrying the largest share, account for an estimated 80% of premature visible skin aging. Daily broad-spectrum SPF, antioxidant serums, and pigmentation correctors reverse early damage and prevent further progression. The BIOSAR Sunprotex range delivers broad-spectrum UVA + UVB protection layered with antioxidants for measurably stronger photoprotection.
From the BIOSAR catalog
Products formulated with Squalane
Sensimed50 ml
Cica Cream SPF30
Ceramide · Centella · Panthenol
Serenvit30 ml
Cica Serum
Centella · Squalane · Calendula
Hydraderm50 ml
Face Cream
Hyaluronic Acid · Ceramide · Shea Butter
Serenvit30 ml
Resveratrol & Ferulic Acid Serum
Resveratrol · Calendula · Squalane
Serenvit30 ml
Retinol Serum
Retinol · Squalane · Aloe Vera
Contains retinol — not recommended during pregnancy or nursing.