Squalane has become one of the most used ingredients in clean beauty. It's in almost every Glow and Flow Health product — and understanding what it actually is and what it genuinely does explains why.
What Squalane Actually Is
Squalane starts as squalene — a lipid naturally produced by human sebaceous glands and present in high concentrations in sebum (the skin's natural oil). Squalene is also found in shark liver oil (historically the primary commercial source) and in plant sources including olives, sugarcane, amaranth seeds and rice bran.
Squalane is squalene that has been hydrogenated — a process that adds hydrogen atoms to stabilise the molecule. Unsaturated squalene oxidises quickly and causes rancidity. Saturated squalane is shelf-stable for years without preservatives, which is why it's used in cosmetics rather than squalene directly.
All Glow and Flow Health squalane is plant-derived (olive or sugarcane). No shark liver oil is used in any product.
Why Squalane Is in Almost Every Product
Squalane has a property that's difficult to match with any other ingredient: it's structurally identical to the lipids human skin produces naturally. This gives it a unique set of behaviours:
Instant absorption. Because skin recognises squalane as its own, it absorbs it without resistance. There's no surface film, no greasy residue, no waiting. On lip skin it absorbs in seconds. On body skin it absorbs in under two minutes.
Non-comedogenic. Squalane doesn't block pores. Unlike heavier oils (coconut oil, for instance, rates 4 on the comedogenic scale), squalane rates 0–1. It's safe for oily, acne-prone and congested skin types.
All skin types. It's moisturising for dry skin without heaviness. It's regulating for oily skin — adding moisture from outside can actually reduce sebum overproduction caused by dehydration. It's soothing for sensitive skin. It's truly universal.
Antioxidant properties. Squalane has mild antioxidant activity, protecting against free radical damage from UV and environmental pollution. This is why it works well paired with Vitamin E (a stronger antioxidant) in formulations.
Where It Appears in the Glow and Flow Health Range
Squalane is in seven of the twenty Glow and Flow Health products — making it the most common ingredient across the range after glycerin and Vitamin E:
- Glow Lip Oil — primary base oil
- Rose Glow Tinted Lip Oil — primary base oil
- Golden Hour Body Oil — with jojoba and sunflower
- Liquid Glow Drops — as the mica carrier
- Silk Layer Body Lotion — for fast absorption
- Glow Base Radiance Serum — as moisture base under actives
- Everywhere Glow Balm — primary conditioning agent
In each case, squalane was chosen because it's the most compatible oil for the formula's purpose and the skin type it's designed for. There's no filler in the range.