Squalane vs Jojoba – Comparison & Benefits

When it comes to hydration, oils are among the most popular types of products that lock in skin moisture.

But there is a wide variety of oils you can try!

There’s also the mega-moisturizing squalane that you can also rely on for hydration.

So today I thought to take a closer look at squalane oil vs jojoba oi – which one is better?

What can they do for your skin?

Which one is the right one for you?

There are many questions and I’m about to show you all the answers.

Let’s go!

What is squalane oil?

The first thing that you should know about squalane is that it’s a compound naturally found in our bodies. Although it’s a moisturizing molecule that you can find in a range of different hydrating products, the skin produces its own form of squalane.

However, the amount can be inadequate, especially as we age.

The squalane levels in the body are highest throughout our teenage years but slowly start to decrease as we get older.

Because it’s a powerful moisturizer, low levels of squalane result in dry, rough, and vulnerable skin.

That’s why squalane-enriched skincare products have become popular in recent years.

Some of the benefits that squalane provides include:

• Hydrates the skin – squalane locks in moisture, offering excellent hydration for the skin.
• Soothes and calms the skin – it offers protective properties for the skin by calming irritations and soothing redness.
• Improves elasticity – it has anti-aging properties and slows down destructive skin processes, which can lead to a loss in elasticity.
• Helps balance oil production – squalane encourages the body to produce balanced levels of oil and prevents clogged pores as a result.
• Promotes collagen production – squalane can encourage the production of more collagen in the body, leading to firmer skin.

It’s worth noting that perhaps one of the biggest drawbacks of squalane in the past was that it was mainly derived from shark liver.

This is a serious concern for people concerned with animal wellbeing.

However, in recent years, more nature-friendly sources have been commercialized. Currently, about 40% of the industry total is derived from sugar cane, rice, and olive oil.

Who will benefit from squalane?

Squalane is non-comedogenic and doesn’t leave any greasiness or oiliness.

It’s a suitable compound for any skin type, even for acne-prone and oily skin, as it’s lightweight and won’t clog pores, thus not causing any breakouts (of course, there are always minor exceptions).

It’s mostly recommended for people with mature, dry skin, who are looking to further improve hydration and elasticity.

Who should avoid using squalane?

So far I mentioned that squalane is an appropriate ingredient for oily skin. And that’s true.

However, if your skin is too oily and very acne-prone, you risk making the situation worse if you implement squalane products into your routine.

After all, squalane will add an extra layer of moisture and hydration to the skin, potentially providing too much for your skin to handle.

What is jojoba oil?

Jojoba oil is a whole different story.

It’s a popular type of oil for the Oil Cleansing Method that I’ve looked at in another article and is highly recommended for acne-prone skin.

Jojoba stands out from a lot of other botanical oils with the fact that it resembles the skin’s natural sebum the most.

It’s nearly identical to the oil produced by the skin.

In other words, it’s much easier for jojoba oil to penetrate the skin and be absorbed.

Once it’s applied, it offers long-term hydration and a ton of other benefits:

• Calming properties – jojoba oil has anti-inflammatory properties and calms skin irritations, redness, and swelling.
• Nourishes the skin – jojoba oil is packed with gems like Vitamin E, Vitamin B, antioxidants, and minerals like chromium, copper, and zinc. This rich ingredient list allows it to nourish and protect the skin.
• Anti-aging properties – due to the high level of moisture it provides for the skin, jojoba oil promotes elasticity and slows down aging.
• Non-acnegenic properties – earlier I mentioned that jojoba oil is similar to the skin’s natural oil. This means that it leads to balanced oil production, which reduces the risks of acne. In addition, the oil will prevent bacteria growth on the skin.
• Anti-microbial and soothing – it’s perfect for acne-prone skin due to its antimicrobial properties and is also soothing, meaning it will help with dryness, and redness, and will calm down different skin conditions like eczema and rosacea.

Who can benefit from jojoba oil?

Jojoba oil is highly recommended for people with very sensitive skin or with conditions like eczema, acne, psoriasis, and others.

It’s also ideal for people with very oily skin and is appropriate for the Oil Cleansing Method. It’s non-comedogenic, meaning that it won’t clog your pores.

Who should avoid jojoba oil?

Overall, jojoba oil is well-tolerated by people with different skin types.

However, there are cases where people have experienced allergic reactions to the oil – these are very specific and individual cases.

It’s best to try it yourself and see how your skin reacts. If you haven’t used any jojoba oil-based products before, make sure to start slow with a patch test and see how your skin reacts.

If everything’s good, you’re free to go all in and fully implement jojoba oil into your skincare routine.

What’s the difference between squalane vs jojoba?

So what’s the big difference between squalane and jojoba oil? How does squalane vs jojoba compare?

They’re both moisturizing agents, both are non-comedogenic, and both offer a ton of extra benefits for the skin.

However, perhaps the biggest point of differentiation is their origin.

I noted earlier that squalane has been derived from shark liver, which doesn’t exactly make it the most animal-friendly solution in the world.

On the other hand, jojoba oil is plant-based and extracted from jojoba plant seeds. This makes it a vegan alternative to squalane.

Is squalane oil better than jojoba oil?

In a nutshell, it depends.

They’re both extremely powerful moisturizing ingredients that can be used on different skin types.

However, this is the place to add something very important: squalane will help you retain the skin’s moisture and won’t cause any acne, but it won’t help with existing acne either.

On the other hand, jojoba oil can help reduce acne and calm the skin in this specific situation.

There really isn’t one definite answer to the question of whether squalene or jojoba oil is better. It all comes down to personal preference and the specific skin type and condition that you have.

Wrapping up

I’d recommend that if you are looking for reliable hydration for the skin, try both jojoba oil and squalane, especially if you have an acne-prone skin type.

Both can offer a lot and both have been reviewed in different ways by users, dermatologists, and other skin care experts.

Don’t forget to give your skin some time to adapt to the ingredients if they’re new to your skincare routine.

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you have any experience with squalene or jojoba oil, don’t be shy and share your comments and experiences in the comments section below!