Good Emollient

Squalene

INCI: SQUALENE

CAS Number
111-02-4
Function
Unsaturated triterpene hydrocarbon; precursor to squalane. Found naturally in human sebum. When used cosmetically, typically hydrogenated to squalane for stability.
Safety Rating
GOOD

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted
US Notes Cosmetic use is typically as the hydrogenated form (squalane). Shark-derived squalene is effectively phased out by major brands; sugarcane biotech fermentation is the dominant replacement.

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
not established
Dermal Absorption
moderate
Sensitization
low

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Natural human sebum component with cosmetic use increasingly as the more stable hydrogenated squalane form; plant and biotech sources are standard.

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Concern Level: Low

Regulatory Flags

vegan-verify-source prefer-plant-derived

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Squalene safe in cosmetics?

Natural human sebum component with cosmetic use increasingly as the more stable hydrogenated squalane form; plant and biotech sources are standard. The EU classifies Squalene as "permitted". Safety rating: GOOD.

Is Squalene allowed in the EU?

Squalene EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Squalene do in cosmetics?

Squalene functions as: Unsaturated triterpene hydrocarbon; precursor to squalane. Found naturally in human sebum. When used cosmetically, typically hydrogenated to squalane for stability.. It is classified as a Emollient in our database. CAS number: 111-02-4.

What is the Margin of Safety for Squalene?

not established The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

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