So why did the skin care industry fall so hard and so fast for it? Well, to put it bluntly: It’s a really great ingredient with several high-impact benefits. Here, we explain. In the past, the oil was surrounded by a bit of controversy. This comes up because squalene oil was traditionally extracted from less-than-ethical sources. “Squalene was produced from the livers of sharks,” says Zeichner. “Because of ethical and environmental issues, it is not commonly used anymore.” And what came in its place is botanically derived squalane and squalene—like from olive oil, rice bran, and sugar cane—that is abundant in products today. A common misconception is that squalene can only be extracted from shark liver—however, much like it’s cousin, it can be made from botanical sources too. So don’t panic when you see that “e” in squalene on the ingredient list—it doesn’t mean it’s been extracted from animal sources. However, it may not be great for people who have easily clogged pores. “Generally speaking, I do not recommend squalane for people who have acne-prone skin. It is a fully saturated fat and may cause breakouts in some people,” says Zeichner.
