The best squalane serums are the unseen heroes of hydration. The ingredient doesn’t get as much love as hydrators like hyaluronic acid, but it’s arguably better for sensitive skin that needs barrier support in addition to hydration. “Squalane is a lightweight oil that locks in moisture and supports the skin’s barrier, while hyaluronic acid is a humectant that draws water into the skin for hydration. If your skin feels dry or needs barrier support, squalane is amazing,” says Dendy Engelman, MD, and board-certified dermatologist based in NYC.
Here, we spoke with dermatologists and Glamour editors who reviewed about a dozen of squalane serums on the market to help determine the very best ones to shop. Our top overall pick is the Biossance Squalane + Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping Serum because it feels ultra-hydrating, is recommended by dermatologists and instantly plumps the skin after application. We also found options that are available on Amazon (2-day shipping, please!), plus ones suitable for oily and mature skin types.
Featured in this articleBest Overall:
Biossance Squalane + Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping Serum
Jump to reviewBest for Dry Skin:
Summer Fridays Jet Lag Deep Hydration Serum
Jump to reviewBest for Oily Skin:
The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane Serum
Jump to review
How we tested squalane serums
We tested the best squalane serums by evaluating their texture, how well they absorbed into the skin and their efficacy. The ones that made this list all had silky and creamy textures that felt refreshing and cool during application. They also absorbed quite quickly and dried down fast—without leaving stickiness behind. Finally, the best ones made our skin look plump, helped diminish fine lines and created a smooth, soft base for makeup application.
Best Overall: Biossance Squalane + Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping Serum
Biossance Squalane + Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping Serum
Original video from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Biossance Squalane + Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping Serum
- What we like: Feels cooling upon application; has a dreamy texture and plumps skin immediately
- What could improve: Pricey
Dr. Engelman is a massive fan of this plumping serum if you’re looking for a temporary skin-smoothing and tightening effect. “This serum helps firm and lift the skin while providing deep hydration. It contains copper peptides for bounce, paracress extract for a tightening effect, and squalane to keep the skin moisturized without feeling heavy,” she notes. It rose to the top of our list because it also contains hyaluronic acid to help deeply hydrate, and peptides to improve the look of skin elasticity.
Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary is also a massive fan of this pick, and she uses it every single morning. ““This squalane serum is probably one of the best I’ve ever tried, not only because I see immediate plumping effects after I use it, but because my skin simply drinks it up,” she says. “My skin is combination, and I love that this doesn’t overly hydrate it or make it feel greasy or dewy. Instead, it hydrates my dry patches but keeps my usually oily T-zone matte. My skin looks a lot smoother, flake-free, and plump—all the good things.”
Best for Dry Skin: Summer Fridays Jet Lag Deep Hydration Serum
Summer Fridays Jet Lag Deep Hydration Serum
Original video from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Summer Fridays Jet Lag Deep Hydration Serum
- What we like: The texture is thick but dries down to a veil of lightweight hydration
- What could improve: Might not be suitable for very oil skin types
If you have dry and flaky skin, you’ll love this deep hydration serum that blends squalane with glycerin to intensely hydrate. It has a creamy, almost moisturizer-like formula that dries down quickly and leaves skin feeling fresh and soft.
“My combination skin simply drank this serum up the first time I tried it,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary. “It has a jelly-like consistency that makes skin feel super velvety after blended in, and it did a great job of taming the drier areas on my cheeks. I also noticed an improvement in my redness in these areas (thanks to the colloidal oatmeal in the formula, I’d guess), it did an amazing job of evening out my skin tone and dark spots.”
Best for Aging Skin: Cocokind Ceramide Barrier Serum
Cocokind Ceramide Barrier Serum
Original video from Charlotte Twine testing Cocokind Ceramide Barrier Serum
- What we like: Has a lightweight, milky texture that absorbs quickly; instantly plumps the skin
- What could improve: Might cause redness in sensitive areas upon first use
Mature and aging skin types can benefit from a soothing squalane serum because they help reinforce the skin’s barrier and can improve the appearance of fine lines. This deeply moisturizing ceramide serum will do just the trick with a blend of squalane and beta glucan (which is a polysaccharide that helps boost the skin barrier), plus fatty acids to help lock in hydration all day long.
“I am beyond impressed—this serum has given me a show-stopping glow. And possibly, dare I say, an almost glass-skin-like complexion,” says Glamour contributor Charlotte Twine. “In the after photos, I am not wearing any highlighter at all, just a little bit of concealer, powder and blush, and…no moisturizer! I just realized I forgot to put it on because my skin looked so good. I’ve used it for just a few days: I apply about three drops after washing my skin. The serum gets soaked up immediately, and leaves a wonderful gleam. My skin is mostly combination, perhaps on the oily side, so I didn’t feel it needed moisturizer after this boost, though I will probably choose a lightweight one to use after this serum in the future. Also, there was no pilling with my makeup. I will make this a permanent part of my skin care, stat.”
Best for Sensitive Skin: Byoma Hydrating Facial Serum with Squalane
Byoma Hydrating Facial Serum with Squalane
Original video from Emily Tannenbaum testing Byoma Hydrating Facial Serum with Squalane
- What we like: Super affordable; replenishes and plumps skin quickly
- What could improve: Packaging easily breaks and spills
We love this hydrating facial serum that has squalane, glycerin and ceramides to boost skin brightness and elasticity. It’s alcohol and fragrance-free too, which makes it perfect for sensitive skin types.
“This hydrating serum is light-weight and no-fuss, which is exactly what I look for in the summer when my combination skin is at its oiliest. Though I’m usually wary of trying new serums this time of year, I was happy to see the main ingredients were squalene and glycerin, two hydrating ingredients that don’t typically irritate my sensitive skin. My skin feels much softer after a week of use and I did not suffer a single breakout despite testing the product right before the start of my period. My one gripe is that the bottle did not seem to be particularly full and I had to repeatedly dip back in to get three drops from the pipette,” says Glamour contributor, Emily Tannenbaum.
Best Korean Beauty: Innisfree Green Tea Hyaluronic Acid Refillable Serum
Innisfree Green Tea Hyaluronic Acid Refillable Serum
Original video from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Innisfree Green Tea Hyaluronic Acid Refillable Serum
- What we like: Bigger bottle than most of the formulas on this list; improves dryness
- What could improve: It’s a bit drying if you have very dry skin
