Is Squalane Vegan?

Vegan status: Depends on Source

Also known as: Squalene (unsaturated precursor), Olive squalane, Sugarcane squalane

Source

Historically, squalene (the unsaturated precursor) was extracted from shark liver oil [not vegan]. Today, most commercial squalane is derived from: (1) olive oil [vegan], (2) sugarcane fermentation [vegan], or (3) wheat germ [vegan]. However, shark-derived squalene is still used in some pharmaceutical vaccine adjuvants.

Commonly found in

Moisturizers, facial oils, sunscreens, hair serums, lip balms, some vaccine formulations.

Vegan alternative: Plant-derived squalane. Brands like Biossance (sugarcane) and The Ordinary (plant-derived) explicitly source from plants.

Notes

This is a major improvement story in beauty. The shift away from shark squalene has saved an estimated millions of sharks per year. When purchasing, look for 'olive-derived' or 'sugarcane-derived' squalane on the label or brand website.