True or false? Squalane in cosmetics

Published: 12-Dec-2022

Which of these five preconceptions of squalane in cosmetics are true, and which ones are a myth?


1. "It is difficult to supply olive squalane"

False - SOPHIM produces twice as before

  • in 2015, SOPHIM invested in a factory in Almeria, Spain, closer to the olive oil
  • in 2020, SOPHIM produced +50% in the french plant
  • in 2023, SOPHIM will be able to produce x2 with the spanish plant

2. "Phytosqualan is the most sustainable squalane"

True - SOPHIM offers an upcycled squalane

Beyond buying our raw material from olive oil by products, we also valorize 95% of the waste produced during Phytosqualan production process.

3. "Sugar-cane squalane is 100% natural"

False - There is no squalene in sugarcane

People often mistakes sugarcane squalane for a natural squalane. But in fact, there is no squalene in sugarcane.
Sugarcane squalane is synthetic, and its process uses GMO from sugar.

4. "Olive squalane offers more sensoriality"

True - The best after-feel is found with olive squalane

SOPHIM's customers are the best support and often offer precious feedback.
SOPHIM conducted a sensory test with 12 non-trained people, just to check the truthfulness of this affirmation, and guess what? Olive squalane, compared to other sources, offered the best after-feel sensory.

5. "Olive squalane production process is more energy-consuming"

False - Depending on the source of squalane, it was demonstrated Olive Squalane offers a less energy consuming and polluting process:

Climate change

  • olive squalane : 5 kg CO2 eq
  • synthetic squalane : 199.7 kg CO2 eq

Water use

  • olive squalane : 1.63E-02 L
  • synthetic squalane : 0.5932 L

Source : Personal Care Magazine article from April 2022, pp 65-70 - Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA) example on Squalane

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