Friday Quickie: Steer Away from Shark Based Squalene

Shark week continues…

OK, what the heck is squalene? Shark squalene is an organic compound found in a sharks liver.

So, what’s the problem? Shark squalene is heavily used in cosmetics, contributing to unsustainable fishing and damage to marine life. One reason the population of sharks is declining is due to overfishing for the purpose of obtaining the squalene.

The good news: A few years ago many cosmetic companies such as L’Oreal, and Unilever brands Ponds and Dove made the switch to plant-based squalene. (Gee, you would think if an ingredient is available in our environment that would be a better idea than killing an animal for it??)

But, of course cosmetic companies don’t make it easy on consumers to decipher if the squalene contained in their products is indeed from sharks or a plant derivative.  Unfortunately, the consumer is often left to investigate the source on their own.

Readers, have you come across squalene in your cosmetics? Shark or plant-based?