This is a very controversial source, as I’m sure you can imagine. In its campaign to end the use of shark squalene, Oceana has received news that most of the major European cosmetic brands phased out shark-based squalene, or are phasing out, this ingredient in favor of a sustainable plant-based substitute. It has created a Shark-Free Seal that can be added to cosmetic products to notify shoppers in an instant whether the item is safe to buy. Cosmetic Companies Use This Surprising Ingredient As a Base. There are some important benefits of squalene that hold a huge appeal to the cosmetics ... and it is recognized as improving the appearance of skin. Check your makeup bag for squalene and squalane. Out of these 2200 tons, 90% went into cosmetic products, 9% in nutraceuticals, and 1% in pharmaceuticals. Shark Allies wants to change this. As an alternative to shark squalene, phyto-squalane has been used as a great moisturiser and cosmetic ingredient. Squalene is a common ingredient in sunscreens, lipsticks, eye shadows, lotions and foundations. Squalene is a common ingredient in cosmetics and skincare products, a naturally-occurring moisturizing oil that can come from sharks. And earlier this month, Oceana was pleased to report … Oceana has received notice that Unilever, a multinational company famous for many brands of food, personal care and household products, has decided to remove shark squalene from its cosmetic brands, including Pond’s and Dove, and will replace it with a plant-based version. Despite various cosmetic companies investing in more sustainable alternatives to shark liver oil (squalane), one expert believes that there are still issues with supply in that some specialised producers are passing off shark squalene as that of the more expensive plant alternative, unbeknownst to the large multinationals. Sharks that live in deeper water tend to have more oil in their livers. Much of the squalene and squalane found in cosmetics is made from shark liver. The use of shark-squalene adjuvants used to treat influenza has been evaluated by the World Health Organization by Norvartis, Chiron and other large pharmaceutical companies. Other shark parts like teeth and jaws are sold as jewelry and decorations and shark leather is used in clothing like boots and jackets. Squalene and its derivative squalane can be found as ingredients in cosmetic products, ranging from anti-aging cream to lip gloss. The petition lists five companies using shark-derived squalene, which Shark Allies says they pulled from a WHO database. Shark-based squalene is commonly used by many consumer product and cosmetic brands you are no doubt familiar with. For this reason, it is the ideal ingredient for use in all sorts of products from lip balm to sunscreen. According to Unilever, based in London, the new production that uses a plant-based version of squalene will begin early this year and new formulations are expected to appear on … A petition has been launched by Shark Allies asking companies to use alternative sources of squalene in a COVID-19 vaccine. Historically, though, getting squalene for beauty products hasn’t always been the most environmentally friendly. By Lisa Spear On 7/24/18 at 3:56 PM EDT. As of October 15, the petition has received more than 80,000 signatures. More cosmetic companies are switching from shark-based to plant-based squalene. Many manufacturers use shark liver oil in beauty products, because it mimics our body’s natural oils, so it’s easily absorbed without leaving behind a heavy-feeling residue. Some cosmetic brands still use a substance derived from the liver of sharks in the blends of moisturizing creams. “We understand the difficulty and [we know] change is hard, but our call to action is that both the vaccines and cosmetic companies start to think about switching,” says Brendl. Squalene (and its derivative squalane) is harvested for its reported moisturizing powers. Squalene is also a cheaper ingredient (compared to veggie substitutes) that’s been popular with companies for decades. Shark Squalene in COVID-19 Vaccine Candidates. One of the main components of shark liver oil is a compound called squalene. Cole will be joined by Alannah Weston, the creative director at Selfridges, who is removing all products containing squalene from the store. However, squalene can be obtained from plants (e.g. Unfortunately not all cosmetic manufacturers state the provenance of their squalane. One shark group has made sensationalist claims that COVID vaccines that use shark based squalene adjuvants will kill as many as 500,000 sharks, including hammerhead sharks. According to the non-profit organization Shark … California-based biotechnology company Amyris created a plant-based squalene by fermenting sugarcane in Brazil. shark livers). Squalene is naturally found in your skin. However, not all vaccines use squalene. In 2012, BLOOM carried out a worldwide study on the use of shark squalane, a substance extracted from the livers of sharks, especially deepwater shark species which are especially vulnerable to overfishing and often endangered. Since that time, Oceana has become engaged in a campaign to end the use of shark squalene in cosmetics. As a result, it’s often found in everything from sunscreen to foundation, lipstick, tanning lotion and other similar skincare and cosmetics products. Due to obvious ethical concerns, many companies have shifted away from using shark … The most common use appears to be in facial moisturizer. For a couple hundred years, shark liver oil, which contains squalene, … Sharks use oil in their livers to help regulate their buoyancy. Oceana, an international ocean conservation group based in Washington, D.C., was made aware of the use of shark products in cosmetics when it discovered that a company called “Oceana” was selling shark squalene as a skin enhancer. While humans use squalene as an ingredient for beauty products … 96% of cosmetic products containing shark squalene also indicate the presence of plant squalene. Several of the adjuvants used in COVID-19 vaccines currently being tested use shark squalene, while the squalene source for others are unconfirmed. The amount of squalene our bodies naturally produce decreases as we age, so cosmetic and supplement brands include squalene in their products to moisturize the skin, claiming that the ingredient fights signs of aging. A New Standard . Traditional sources of squalene Shark Liver Oil. Squalane was originally obtained from shark livers and sometimes it still is. Shark-based squalene is commonly used by many consumer product and cosmetic brands you are no doubt familiar with. Companies that producing cosmetics are heavily dependent on high yielding shark-based squalene for their products due to its cost–effectiveness. Over 3 million sharks are hunted and killed for their livers each year to be used in these cosmetics. Every year 3,000 sharks are required to produce 1 ton of squalene. Deep-sea sharks, like chimeras, gulper, kitefin and dogfish sharks have high levels of squalene in their livers. Sadly, this isn't how moisturizer is branded. Squalene—an oil extracted from the livers of endangered sharks—is being used more and more frequently in the cosmetic industry, particularly in the making of a high-end face cream. We don’t recommend it. Additionally, there are companies such as GSK, Seqirus, and Clover Biopharmaceuticals, that are producing squalene-based adjuvants or using those adjuvants in the testing of COVID-19 vaccines. The Facts. But due to the obvious ethical and sustainability concerns, virtually all cosmetic companies have switched to plant sources, most commonly olives or sugarcane: Olives: During olive oil processing, squalene is extracted from the olive pulp, skin and pits, and then combined with hydrogen to … Hence, squalane, rather than squalene is used for cosmetics. International companies L’Oreal and Unilever have agreed to replace the compound squalene, found in shark livers, with other oils from plant sources, in … Squalene is not only produced by humans but is also naturally produced by other animals such as sharks. Many of the biggest names in the cosmetic industry have already recognized their social and moral responsibility to not contribute to the extinction of these important animals. Squalene is commonly used in cosmetics and skin care products, and in some adjuvants which are a component of certain vaccines. Most fish have a swim bladder, which is a gas-filled organ that helps maintain buoyancy in the ocean, preventing them from sinking. Unilever, an international manufacturer of leading brands in food, personal care and household products, has announced that it will remove shark squalene from its cosmetic brands, including Pond's and Dove. As such, for a long time, shark liver oil was one of the most common squalene sources in cosmetics. Cosmetic uses for squalene. Continue Reading Below. Apparently, some companies are also using squalene in several coronavirus vaccine candidates. amaranth and olives) or animals (e.g. Finding ‘shark liver oil’ on your face cream’s ingredient list might sound like an archaic concept from the era of whale blubber used in lipstick—which ended somewhere around the 1940s—but according to many marine life advocates, shark fishing for beauty products is still happening. The fish-friendly alternative is squalane made from olives. A Grey Reef shark swims in the Indian Ocean near the Maldives on April 20, 2017. As a favored emollient for sunscreen, foundation, face moisturizer, lipstick, eye makeup, tanning oil, and many other products, squalene has found its way into every corner of the personal care industry — but at a huge, deadly cost of which many consumers remain unaware. Squalene is in plants, fungi and humans and is a precursor to sterols. Squalene is a natural organic compound obtained from shark liver oil and vegetable oils including amaranth seed, rice bran, wheat germ, and olives. 89% of cosmetic products containing shark squalene identify as “Cruelty-Free ” or “Vegan.” Thus in many cases, brands and suppliers are: Paying a premium for falsely-labelled or adulterated plant-based squalene that contains shark liver oil. Shark liver oil, which contains squalene, has been extracted from shark livers for use in the cosmetic industry, especially. Squalene/squalane is an oil that is derived from the shark’s liver and is used in cosmetic products ranging from anti-aging creams, lotions, deodorants, hair conditioners, eye shadows, lipstick, lip balms, sunscreen, and cleansers. 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