Indie Lee Squalane Facial Oil for oily acne-prone skin
Squalane- Squalane Oil
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate moisturizing for your oily skin as squalane oil hydrates and enhances barrier resilience, though it lacks significant seboregulating ingredients for optimal oil control.
- Provides general skincare benefits that are mostly supportive for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts, rather than directly targeting these concerns.
- The safety profile is excellent for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing squalane.
How to apply
- Use this AM and PM routine every day to help clear your skin. Always remember to finish with SPF in the morning.
- Apply the moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your SPF during the day.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and avoid rubbing to keep pores clear.
- Apply on clean, slightly damp skin to help the product absorb better and control oil.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a simple patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsThis facial oil is frequently praised for its lightweight, non-greasy feel and its ability to hydrate without clogging pores. Users with sensitive, oily, and acne-prone skin often report improvements in skin texture, reduced redness, and a radiant complexion. A small number of users experienced breakouts, and some noted issues with packaging or found the price high for a single-ingredient product.
Highlights
Lightweight & fast-absorbing Mostly Mentioned
- “soaks in nearly instantly”
- “feather-light texture”
- “never leaves a greasy residue”
- “absorbs amazing”
Deeply hydrating Often Mentioned
- “skin feels supple”
- “eliminated my dry patches”
- “leaves face feeling soft”
- “keeps skin glowing”
Improves texture & tone Sometimes Noted
- “improved my skins texture”
- “evened out skin tone”
- “helped with dullness”
- “pores look smaller”
Sensitive/acne-prone skin Sometimes Noted
- “safe for acne-prone skin”
- “calms my redness”
- “didn't break me out”
- “great for sensitive skin”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “broke me out like clockwork”
- “caused cystic acne”
- “gave me whiteheads”
- “skin didn't like olive-derived squalane”
Lack of efficacy Rarely Noted
- “sat on top of skin”
- “didn't feel hydrating”
- “did nothing for me”
- “not enough for dry winter skin”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “bottle shattered easily”
- “dropper stopped working”
- “glass is very fragile”
- “leaked in my bag”
Price point Rarely Noted
- “expensive for just squalane”
- “can find cheaper alternatives”
- “pricey for what it is”
Sources: lovi.care, indielee.com, sephora.sg, bluemercury.com, aillea.com, thegreenkiss.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Indie Lee Squalane work for oily acne-prone skin?
Indie Lee Squalane Facial Oil works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, providing gentle hydration and a safe, soothing touch without irritation, though it lacks strong oil-control ingredients. A moisturizer for this skin type needs lightweight, oil-free hydration and powerful ingredients that actively target blemishes while supporting the skin barrier.
Which ingredients make this moisturizer a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Squalane makes this moisturizer a fit for your oily acne-prone skin by hydrating and supporting your skin barrier without irritation. It is very safe for your skin type, though this skin needs a moisturizer with ingredients that directly manage excess oil and target blemishes.
What does Squalane do for oily acne-prone skin?
Squalane may help keep oily skin soft and smooth, but oxidized squalene can trigger inflammation in acne-prone skin. Because of this, oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight, non-greasy ingredients that balance moisture without clogging pores.
What does Squalane Oil do for oily acne-prone skin?
Squalane oil helps keep oily acne-prone skin soft and smooth without feeling heavy or greasy. Because it closely mimics your skin's natural oils, it is unlikely to clog pores, and it helps calm redness while supporting a balanced skin barrier.
Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2025Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2024
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
Indie Lee Squalane Facial Oil goes in your morning and evening routine as a moisturizer. It is very unlikely to irritate your oily acne-prone skin, but it lacks oil-controlling ingredients and blemish treatments.
Can I use this moisturizer with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizer with retinol by applying the retinol first and then the moisturizer over it. This helps keep your skin calm and is unlikely to cause irritation because the product has very gentle ingredients.
How often should I use it?
You can use this facial oil daily as a moisturizer in your morning and evening routines. It is very gentle and unlikely to irritate, but for oily acne-prone skin, this type of product needs added oil-controlling ingredients to properly manage breakouts.
Can this moisturizer clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
Indie Lee Squalane Facial Oil is unlikely to irritate oily acne-prone skin because it lacks harsh ingredients and contains soothing squalane. However, it provides only supportive care for breakouts rather than directly targeting them, so this skin type needs a moisturizer with ingredients that specifically help control excess oil and clear blemishes.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this facial oil on your body and around your eyes, where the skin is particularly thin. It is safe and soothing for these areas, though this skin type needs oil-control and blemish-targeting ingredients to work best.
What the research says
Application of squalene/phosphotungstate calcium nanowires (Sql/PWC) oleogel on UVB-irradiated skin decreased epidermal thickness, increased dermal thickness, and promoted the expression of elastin, collagen, and skin barrier markers through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.
Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2025Topical application of a vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate significantly increased epidermal thickness, type III collagen production, and glycosaminoglycans production in human skin explants compared to free vitamin C and vitamin C-palmitate.
Scientific Reports, 2020Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025
Why other moisturizers fit oily acne-prone skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023
Ingredients
Squalane Oil
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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