I Tried the Biossance Squalane + Growth Factor Firming Moisturizer and My Ultra-Sensitive Skin Is So Grateful

As a founding member of the sensitive skin club, I have tried what feels like every product under the sun in search of formulas that won’t send my eczema-prone skin into a spiral. Keeping my epidermis healthy is challenging enough, but when you add sub-freezing temperatures into the mix, the quest for hydrated skin feels never-ending. Lucky for me, I think my endless trial and error have come to an end, and I’ve (nearly) perfected my winter skincare routine. Enter: Biossance's Squalane + Growth Factor Firming Moisturizer.

If you don’t already know, Biossance is a vegan skincare brand that uses plant-based squalane as a hero ingredient in many of its products. While squalane was historically sourced from shark livers, the brand’s version is derived from sugarcane—which results in a “purer, vegan, more ethical, and more effective” ingredient. The compound occurs naturally in our skin, but when used in skincare it promotes hydration and can help boost absorption of other active ingredients.

Naturally, when I heard Biossance had a new moisturizer hitting shelves, I jumped at the chance to give it a try. Turns out, the just-launched Squalane + Growth Factor Firming Moisturizer is just what my skin’s been craving.

The Ingredients and Formula

The Squalane + Growth Factor Firming Moisturizer aims to support the skin barrier and promote elasticity through the use of four main ingredients. First up is the brand’s biomimetic Growth Factor—a vegan protein identical to those naturally occurring in the skin—which encourages cells to “act and appear younger.” Then, a powerhouse combination of cyclic peptides, vegan collagen, and sugarcane squalane comes together to plump, firm, and hydrate the skin.

According to the brand, the formula delivers both immediate and long-term benefits by helping restore the look of collagen-rich skin while visibly improving laxity, firmness, and reducing the appearance of fine lines.

The Application

As a longtime Biossance fan, this product is a welcome addition to their existing lineup. My current everyday moisturizer is the Squalane + Omega Repair Cream, which has a rich, whipped formula. The Squalane + Growth Factor, however, is cushiony, with a gel-like consistency. Like the other products in their line, this moisturizer has a bit of a sweet scent, thanks to the sugarcane-based squalane. This can be jarring at first, but you get used to it.

I applied the moisturizer as directed—on cleansed skin, following my eye cream and serum routine. It feels cool on application, soothing my easily-aggravated skin. Since I’m already familiar with the Squalane + Omega cream, I was a little surprised by how light this product is in comparison. However, its hydrating benefits are noticeable upon application, drying down to a lightweight, silky finish.

I definitely think going in with a copper peptide serum first helped secure a bit more moisture on my ultra-dry patches, ultimately resulting in a nice, glowy complexion. It layered nicely under makeup, but I likely need to wait a bit longer between steps due to the tackiness of the moisturizer.

The Takeaway

The ingredients in this product really put it in a class of its own within my skincare stash. I appreciate that it feels totally different from other products that I already use, and that it actually works in tandem to boost their effectiveness. I was especially impressed with how well it locked in hydration during a sub-freezing week in New York City, preventing my skin from turning into a flaky mess. I don’t see it outright replacing my tried-and-true, but it’s definitely a nice option to have as a complement to my existing routine.

Other Biossance Favorites

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion, and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.