Ingredient intelligence
Squalane
Skin barrier · Squalane · C30H62
Squalane is the saturated form of squalene, a naturally present in human . It is studied as an emollient and occlusive rather than a signalling molecule.
Any underlined term can be tapped for an everyday-English translation.
Molecular identity
- Formula
- C30H62
- Molecular weight
- 422.8 g/mol
- PubChem CID
- 16787
- ChEBI
- Data unavailable
Biological targets
Squalene epoxidase (SQLE)
low confidenceassociated with · enzyme
Relevant to endogenous squalene , not to topical squalane.
UniProt Q14534
Molecules & genes
Molecules
- SqualaneC30H62 · 422.8 g/mol
- SqualeneC30H50 · 410.7 g/mol
Genes / proteins
How could this ingredient interact with biology?
Biological network
Ingredient → molecule → target → gene/protein → pathway → process → studied outcome. Relationship strength is drawn from the curated confidence tier; nothing is added to make the chain look complete.
drag to pan · hover to isolate a path · click a node for detail
4 lower-confidence relationships are hidden at this filter level. Use “Show more biology” to include them.
Text alternative for this network
- Squalane is molecule Squalane — high confidence
- Squalane is molecule Squalene — high confidence
- Transepidermal water loss regulation studied in Studied as an emollient; mechanism largely physical — medium confidence
Biological pathways
Cholesterol biosynthesis
low confidenceEndogenous squalene sits in the sterol synthesis route.
Reactome R-HSA-191273
Evidence engine
Insufficient
Not enough curated evidence to characterise this ingredient.
Skinceptor Evidence Index
20
experimental · of 100
This index is a research-navigation aid describing how much evidence exists and how it was produced. It is not a medical safety score, an efficacy guarantee, or a clinical recommendation.
Study composition
- In-vitro1
- Review1
- Total studies
- 2
- Human studies
- 0
- Largest sample
- Data unavailable
- Range
- 2009–2015
Index breakdown
- Study design quality35% × 28%
Mean design weight across curated studies (meta-analysis 1.0, RCT 0.9, other human 0.7, review 0.45, animal 0.35, in-vitro 0.25).
- Human evidence share0% × 22%
Proportion of curated evidence measured in people rather than cells or animals.
- Evidence volume50% × 14%
Log-scaled count of curated studies, so volume alone cannot dominate the score.
- Largest sample size0% × 12%
Log-scaled largest reported sample size across curated human studies.
- Replication0% × 12%
Independent human studies, capped at three; one study is never treated as replicated.
- Recency45% × 7%
Linear decay over a twenty-year window from the most recent curated publication.
- Source traceability0% × 5%
Share of curated studies with a verified PMID or DOI in this dataset.
Insufficient comparable evidence for quantitative synthesis.
Research timeline
How the evidence accumulated
2009
Squalane occlusivity and stratum corneum lipid compatibility
In-vitrosample size unavailable · International Journal of Cosmetic Science
2015
Squalene and squalane in skin surface lipids: oxidation and emollient behaviour
Reviewsample size unavailable · International Journal of Cosmetic Science (review)
Ingredient fingerprint
9 nodes · 9 relationships · seed "squalane"
The fingerprint is a deterministic visual signature: ridge amplitude comes from the number of entities in each tier, node placement from identifier hashes, and opacity from confidence. Two ingredients can never produce the same figure unless their networks are identical.
Open in Biology as Art →Research
2 curated studies
Squalene and squalane in skin surface lipids: oxidation and emollient behaviour
Describes squalene as readily oxidised in sebum, whereas the saturated squalane form is oxidation-resistant and functions as an emollient.
Limitations — Review; largely physicochemical rather than biological endpoints.
Squalane occlusivity and stratum corneum lipid compatibility
Reported reduced water loss across model membranes attributed to a compatible, non-polar occlusive film.
Limitations — Model membranes, not human skin; identifier not verified during curation.
Community evidence
Submitted by readers
Reader submissions appear here only after review. They are not part of the curated dataset and do not affect the Skinceptor Evidence Index.
No approved community submissions yet.
Sources
- PubChem 16787Verified 2026-09-14
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