Cited skincare — every flag names its source, no upsell.
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Squalane

SqualaneBarrier

A light, shelf-stable version of an oil your skin already makes — softens skin without feeling heavy.

What it does

Your skin makes squalene, but it spoils quickly in air; squalane is a version changed so it keeps. It softens skin and supports the barrier without feeling heavy.

The evidence, graded

expert consensusFungal acne is Malassezia folliculitis — an overgrowth of a yeast already living in normal skin flora, commonly mistaken for ordinary acne. In a culture dish the yeast grows only when fatty acids longer than C10 are added, because it cannot make its own. That is why Drop holds lipid-rich products back while you have this flagged. No source Drop has read tested an oil on skin, set an upper chain length, or showed squalane, MCT or mineral oil to be safe.Rubenstein 2014 · Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology ↗

Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.

Also known as

plant-based squalane

Pairs worth knowing

Retinol · works together ↗Ceramides · works together ↗Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5) · works together ↗Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) · works together ↗

Read more

Routines · 5 minOil Cleansing for Non-Acne-Prone Skin: Does It Work?Oil cleansing has a clearer case for dry and normal skin than for acne-prone. Here is when the method helps, when it does not, and how to pick an oil.

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