By Breelyn Vanleeuwen, PA-C | Founder & CEO of Daily Shade
There's an ingredient in Babe Shade that most people walk right past on the label. They're looking for the zinc oxide. They're checking for the things that shouldn't be there. And they completely miss this quiet little overachiever hiding in the inactive list.
Squalane. Our is 100% plant-derived. No sharks. No compromise. Let me explain...
I want to tell you about it. Because once you understand what it does for skin, and then find out where most brands source it from, you're going to have feelings.
First: your skin already makes this.
That's the thing that got me. Squalene is a lipid your skin produces naturally. It makes up about 13% of human sebum, the oil your skin uses to keep itself moisturized and protected. It's part of your skin's native language.
The problem is, your body starts making less of it around your mid-twenties. By the time most adults are in their thirties, their squalene production has dropped significantly. That's part of why skin starts to feel drier, less resilient, more reactive as we age.
What it actually does.
Squalane is one of those ingredients that does a lot without making a big scene about it. Here's what the research shows:
It's a deeply effective moisturizer. Because it mimics your skin's own lipids, it restores the moisture barrier without feeling heavy or greasy. Dry patches, tight skin after washing, that stretched feeling, squalane helps with all of it.
It's non-comedogenic. Meaning it won't clog pores. It's one of the rare oils that works for oily and acne-prone skin too, not just dry skin.
It's an antioxidant. Squalene in its natural form actually helps protect skin cells from oxidative damage. That matters a lot when we're talking about a sunscreen, because UV exposure creates free radicals, and having ingredients in the formula that help neutralize that oxidative stress is a real bonus.
It's incredibly gentle. Fragrance free. Non-irritating. Compatible with sensitive skin, reactive skin, baby skin. We're a brand built for kids. Gentle isn't optional. It's the whole point.
It improves texture. This is the practical one. In a formula with 20% zinc oxide, the supporting ingredients have to work hard to keep the feel elegant. Squalane is part of what gives Babe Shade that smooth, skin-melting glide. No pasty finish. No heaviness. It just disappears.
Now for the part that made me pause.
During the formulation research when we started looking at where squalane actually comes from we discovered that for decades, the primary source was shark liver oil.
Deep-sea sharks, species like the gulper shark, have enormous livers rich in squalene. They were hunted in massive numbers to supply the cosmetics industry. Millions of sharks a year. Killed for an ingredient that ends up in moisturizers and sunscreens and serums.
Here's the part that makes it worse. There's no easy way for consumers to tell the difference between shark-derived and plant-derived squalane just by reading a label. The ingredient looks identical on paper. "Squalane" tells you nothing about the source. You have to know your brand and trust that they actually looked into it.
Most people have no idea this is happening.
Ours is different.
Daily Shade's squalane is 100% plant-derived. No sharks. No compromise.
We are a vegan brand and we mean that all the way down to the sourcing decisions most consumers never think to ask about. When I spent four years building this formula, that included tracing where every raw ingredient comes from, who produces it, and whether it lines up with our values. Ethical sourcing isn't a checkbox for us. It's the baseline.
Sharks belong in the ocean. Not in your kid's sunscreen.
FAQ
What is squalane and why is it in sunscreen? Our Squalane is a plant-derived moisturizing ingredient that mimics the skin's natural oils. In a mineral sunscreen formula, it helps create a smooth, lightweight feel while keeping skin hydrated and supporting the moisture barrier.
Is squalane safe for babies and young kids? Yes. It's one of the gentlest moisturizing ingredients available. Non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, and well-tolerated by sensitive and reactive skin. It's part of why Babe Shade works for even the most delicate skin.
Does squalane come from sharks? It can. Historically, most squalane in cosmetics was derived from shark liver oil. Many brands have shifted to plant-based sources, but not all of them disclose it. Daily Shade uses 100% plant-derived squalane.
What's the difference between squalene and squalane? Squalene (with an "e") is the naturally occurring but unstable form of the molecule. Squalane (with an "a") is the more stable, shelf-ready version created through hydrogenation. Both can be derived from sharks or plants depending on the brand.
Why does my skin accept squalane so easily? Because your skin already produces it naturally. Squalene is part of your skin's own sebum. Applying squalane topically gives your skin a molecule it already recognizes, which is why it absorbs quickly without feeling heavy or foreign.
