Squalane: A Time-Tested Powerhouse

While Squalane is currently gaining buzz as the new “hot” or “trendy” ingredient, this hydrating powerhouse has been the backbone of our product collection since Retrouvé’s inception a decade ago – and in fact, even dating back to the 1970’s when we used it during our days as the family behind Kiehl’s Since 1851, where we began formulating with it in the 1960’s. Decades ago, it was sourced from shark liver, until it was outlawed, and then was sourced from olives. The demand for Squalane caused olive groves worldwide to be decimated, thus necessitating the need for alternative sources, including the plant-derived, vegan form of Squalane that we currently use.

Super emollient Squalane is a time-tested ingredient that is highly compatible with the skin since it mimics the skin’s own naturally produced sebum and is therefore easily recognized and absorbed by the skin. Due to its similar properties to human sebum, this naturally occurring emollient is more easily absorbed by the skin and provides a higher degree of penetration, thus making it an ideal base for delivering to the complexion the signature efficacious ingredients in each of our superb facial hydrators and body oil. Our chemist of many decades, Stephen Musumeci, lovingly refers to Squalane as the “bus that helps to drive the ingredients into the skin.” The sugar-based form of this ingredient that we utilize in our formulations has a beneficial and cumulative moisturizing effect and promotes a softer, smoother complexion.