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Astrong skin barrieris the secret to a healthier complexion.
Beautiful young woman looking up to the sun as it shines over her face and shoulder, hugging herself. stock photo
Not only is the concept straightforward, execution is shockingly simple: just use squalane skin-care products.
Because its non-irritating and compatible with all your go-to skin-care ingredients, its impossible to overuse squalane.
But to truly satisfy your skin barrier, youll need to use the right formula.
Squalane is the ultimate moisturizerit mimics your natural sebum, Rabach explains.
Whats the difference between squalane and squalene?
That one letter makes a big difference in terms of a products performance and stability, according to Shamban.
Squalene is a polyunsaturated fat found within our sebum, she says.
In addition to being produced by our own bodies, its made by other organisms.
Though squalene is plentiful, it cant simply be added into skin-care formulas as is.
Squalene is unstable and not suitable for cosmetic formulation, explains Rubin.
As an alternative, skin-care products can be formulated with squalane, which is a stabilized version of squalene.
Squalane is the saturated, or hydrogenated, version of squalene.
Unlike squalene, squalane skincare is far less susceptible to oxidation and degradation.
Is squalane better than hyaluronic acid?
One isnt better than the other, as they serve completely different purposes.
Apply ahyaluronic acid serumfirst, then smooth on your favorite squalane skin-care formula to seal in the moisture.
Who should incorporate squalane into their routine?
But it shouldnt be discounted by those with oily or acne-prone skin, either, notes Shamban.
It can help balance sebum production, she says.
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