Take this skin quiz to find the best ingredients for your skin and build your skin care routine.
Take The Skin Quiz
Squalane is naturally derived from a long-embraced veggie: the olive. To really get to know all the amazing benefits of squalane, we first need to understand squalene.
Squalene is naturally present in the skin’s lipid barrier. It helps prevent moisture loss and increases a soft, supple feel. Squalane is a more stabilized version of squalene. The issue with squalene is that it is highly unstable and oxidizes when it comes in contact with air. When squalene is hydrogenated, it become highly stable squalane, a super moisture replenishing ingredient.
Squalane's molecular makeup is very similar to our own skin's cell membrane, which allows it to absorb rapidly. It's super lightweight and has a non-greasy formula, making it safe for all skin types, including sensitive skin. It rarely causes acne or allergic reactions since it's naturally found in the body.
There are several different types and causes of acne. Cystic acne occurs when pores in your skin are clogged with sebum, dirt, and dead skin cells. This creates a perfect opportunity for the growth of bacteria, which can cause an infection. The infection can grow deeper into the skin, leading to inflammation and redness, causing raised acne bumps (AKA cysts) with pus that can be tender to the touch.
Benzoyl peroxide is a topical agent for fighting bacteria and can be good for some type of cystic acne. Jojoba oil and rosehip oil are also good for reducing inflammation, fighting bacteria, and keeping in moisture for healthier skin. Ingredients that help exfoliate dead skin cells and increase new skin cell production, such as Vitamin A/Retinol, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid, are good for treating cystic acne as well.
The secret to winning the battle against cystic acne is having the right regimen for your skin. Products that are too strong can be irritating and drying, causing your skin to overproduce oil, which leads to more acne. Picking the wrong active ingredients may have no effect. Using the right regimen for your acne type and skin tolerance can effectively clear acne while keeping your skin healthy and balanced.
squalane may be effective for cystic acne, but there are many other factors that may affect whether this ingredient would work on your skin or if there are better ingredients that may work for you. Take this skin quiz to find the best ingredients for your skin and build your skincare routine.
Next: Does Hemp seed oil work on cystic acne ?