Is Squalene safe in cosmetics?
Squalene has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Good
Emollient
Squalene
Also known as: (E)-Squalene, 2,6,10,14,18,22-Tetracosahexaene, 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyl-, (6E,10E,14E,18E)-, EINECS 203-826-1, Super Squalene, 2,6,10,15,19,23-Hexamethyl-2,6,10,14,18,22-tetracosahexaene, (all-E)- (+4 more)
INCI: SQUALENE
Squalene (CAS 111-02-4) is a cosmetic emollient functioning as Unsaturated triterpene hydrocarbon; precursor to squalane. Found naturally in. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 111-02-4 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Squalene is classified GHS Danger (H304) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status; Chemicals: ghs_classifications.signal_word/hazard_statement_code
Function
Unsaturated triterpene hydrocarbon; precursor to squalane. Found naturally in human sebum. When used cosmetically, typically hydrogenated to squalane for stability.
Safety Rating
GOOD
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
(6E,10E,14E,18E)-2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-2,6,10,14,18,22-hexaene
InChIKey
YYGNTYWPHWGJRM-AAJYLUCBSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US 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 multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Squalene.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Endocrine Disruptor Evidence (Expanded)
Cross-referenced EDC classifications, mechanism data, and dose-response evidence from EDLists, SIN List, and cosmetic-specific detail sources.
Cosmetic-Specific Mechanism
Category: other
Receptor targets: ERα (very weak, limited)
LOEC: N/A
EU status: allowed
very weak modulator
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
100 - 1,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Expanded Jurisdictional Detail
Additional regulatory detail beyond the 7-jurisdiction summary: Saudi SFDA, Korea MFDS, ASEAN ACD, Japan/Korea, Brazil/India, and cross-jurisdictional restriction entries.
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (1)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| GCC | halal_restricted | - | All cosmetics |
Typical Use Concentrations
Reported concentration ranges per product category from SCCS/CIR/industry sources.
| Product Category | Typical Range | Max Reported | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face Cream | 2–10 | 20 | CIR/VCRP |
Additional Ingredient Properties
10 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
acne
{"cas_number": "111-02-4", "anti_acne_mechanism": "anti_inflammatory", "comedogenicity_rating_0_to_5": "3", "acne_type_efficacy": "inflammatory", "sebum_reduction_pct_clinical": "5-15", "prescription_required_usa": "No", "otc_drug_monograph_category": "No", "max_otc_concentration_pct": "No limit", "japan_quasi_drug_anti_acne": "No", "korea_functional_cosmetic_acne": "No", "eu_cosmetic_restriction_…
anti_pollution
{"cas_number": "7683-64-9", "ingredient_class": "antioxidant_pollution_shield", "primary_mechanism": "barrier_reinforcement", "pollution_types_targeted": "PM2_5", "IR_A_protection": "no", "visible_light_protection": "no", "digital_screen_protection_claim": "no", "PAH_neutralization": "no", "ozone_protection": "no", "mitochondrial_protection": "no", "Nrf2_activation": "no", "AhR_pathway_modulation"…
antioxidant
{"cas_number": "111-02-4", "antioxidant_class": "polyphenol", "chemical_subclass": "triterpene", "molecular_weight_daltons": "410.72", "orac_value_umol_te_per_g": "680", "dpph_radical_scavenging_ic50_ug_per_ml": "120-180", "abts_trolox_equivalent": "0.3", "singlet_oxygen_quenching": "moderate", "superoxide_dismutase_mimetic": "low", "hydroxyl_radical_scavenging": "moderate", "lipid_peroxidation_in…
comedogenicity_detail
{"comedogenicity_rating": "2", "irritancy_rating": "0", "skin_type_suitability": "dry,combination,normal,mature", "acne_safe": "caution", "source": "Unsaturated - oxidizes"}
emulsion_hlb
{"hlb_required_as_emulsifier": "no", "hlb_required_of_oil_phase": "10-11", "co_emulsifier_pairs": "polysorbate_80,oleth_20", "optimal_oil_phase_pct": "10-30", "optimal_water_phase_pct": "70-90", "droplet_size_range_um": "1-20", "creaming_resistance": "good", "coalescence_resistance": "good", "ostwald_ripening_resistance": "moderate", "freeze_thaw_stability": "poor", "rheology_modifier_type": "newt…
pregnancy_detail
{"pregnancy_safe": "yes", "breastfeeding_safe": "yes", "risk_category": "not-rated", "reason": "Natural skin lipid; safe", "source": "dermatology literature"}
regulatory
{"eu_status": "allowed", "us_status": "allowed"}
skin_suitability
{"oily_skin": "acceptable", "dry_skin": "recommended", "sensitive_skin": "caution", "combination_skin": "acceptable", "normal_skin": "acceptable", "acne_prone": "caution", "rosacea": "caution", "eczema": "acceptable", "hyperpigmentation": "acceptable", "aging_mature": "acceptable", "dehydrated": "recommended", "skin_benefit_primary": "emollient", "skin_benefit_secondary": "antioxidant", "mechanism…
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Squalene.
Regulatory Flags
vegan-verify-source
prefer-plant-derived
Known Synonyms
(E)-Squalene
2,6,10,14,18,22-Tetracosahexaene, 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyl-, (6E,10E,14E,18E)-
EINECS 203-826-1
Super Squalene
2,6,10,15,19,23-Hexamethyl-2,6,10,14,18,22-tetracosahexaene, (all-E)-
UNII-7QWM220FJH
(14E)-2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-2,6,10,14,18,22-hexaene
(6Z,10E,14E,18E)-2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosa-2,6,10,14,18,22-hexaene
(all-E)-2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyl-2,6,10,14,18,22-tetracosahexaene
Regulatory Lists
detected; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
SQUALENE
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL458402
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Is Squalene used outside cosmetics?
Squalene also appears in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Does Squalene have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Squalene is classified GHS Danger (H304) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Compliance Tools
Check Squalene compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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Chemical family
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Chemical family
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