Ingredient
Squalene
Emollient (unsaturated) · INCI: Squalene
Reviewed by Elysiana, licensed esthetician
How we read it
Highly comedogenic
Known to clog pores. If you break out easily, this is the one to skip.
Is Squalene comedogenic?
Yes. Squalene is a known pore-clogging ingredient, and we read it as highly comedogenic. If you're acne-prone, it's worth avoiding, especially when it sits near the top of an ingredient list.
Why we read it this way
The unsaturated form of squalane (note the 'e'). Unlike stable squalane, squalene oxidizes and is listed as pore-clogging.
The nuance
Don't confuse with Squalane (with an 'a'), which is the stable, non-flagged version.
One ingredient rarely tells the whole story. Run the whole label and see everything in the product at once.