Pentahydrosqualene is a fully hydrogenated derivative of squalene. Unlike squalene (which has 6 double bonds and is prone to oxidation), pentahydrosqualene is saturated and chemically stable. It retains the excellent skin compatibility and emollience of squalene without the stability issues.
Key Skin Benefits
+ Same skin compatibility as squalene (natural sebum component)
+ Oxidation-stable — no rancidity risk
+ Excellent emollient — soft, smooth skin feel
+ Non-comedogenic and well-tolerated
Pros
+ Oxidation-stable alternative to squalene
+ Natural-feel emollient
+ Biocompatible with skin lipids
Cons
− Semi-synthetic — hydrogenation process
− Less researched than squalene or squalane
− More expensive than standard emollients
Specifications
Property
Value
Usage Areas
Face, Eye, Body
Product Type
Leave-On, Rinse-Off
Source
Semi-synthetic
Natural Level
Semi-synthetic
Safety Ratings
Metric
Rating
Skin Sensitivity
1/5 (very low)
Comedogenic Rating
0-1/5
EWG Score
1/10
Regional Regulatory Limits
Region
Leave-on %
Rinse-off %
Status
EU (CosIng)
No limit
No limit
Allowed
US (CIR/FDA)
No limit
No limit
Allowed
Japan (MHLW)
No limit
No limit
Allowed
ASEAN
No limit
No limit
Allowed
China (NMPA)
No limit
No limit
Allowed
Typical Usage % by Product Type
Product Type
Typical %
Face oil
5 - 30%
Moisturizer
2 - 10%
Serum
1 - 5%
References
CIR — Safety Assessment of squalene/squalane. PMID: 12537933
EU CosIng Database — Listed as skin conditioning.
PubMed — Squalene derivatives in cosmetics. PMID: 19664002