Indie Lee was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2008. After surgery, she looked at her beauty shelf and realized — every single bottle was toxic. So she emptied everything and started over with one thing: squalane.
She didn’t launch a brand to be trendy. She launched it because the alternative was literally poisoning herself again. That’s a different kind of origin story — one that actually makes you trust the bottle.
It’s literally just 100% sugar-derived squalane. $38 for 1 oz. I bought it because the premise was so simple I couldn’t find a reason not to try it.
Olive-derived squalane
Not shark liver (yes, that’s where most squalane comes from) — this is plant-based and ethically sourced.
Molecular weight magic
Small enough to sink in fast, big enough to actually seal moisture in. Most oils fail at one or the other.
Zero fragrance
No essential oils, no “natural scent” nonsense. Just oil. Your face will thank you.
One ingredient. That’s the whole point. Indie Lee stripped away everything unnecessary — no fillers, no preservatives, no marketing fluff. Just squalane, which your skin already produces naturally (until you hit your 20s and production tanks).
- Squalane: mimics your skin’s natural moisture barrier — absorbs instantly, doesn’t clog pores
- Vitamin E (tocopherol): naturally present in the oil, acts as a stabilizer + antioxidant
- Sugarcane-derived: fermented, not petroleum-based — cleaner molecular structure
It pours like water. Seriously — it’s thinner than any facial oil I’ve ever used. Rubs between your palms and disappears into skin in about 12 seconds. No greasy residue, no “wait 10 minutes before makeup” nonsense.
Week two hit and I realized my T-zone wasn’t an oil slick by noon anymore. My skin just… stopped overcompensating. The surprise? I actually use less moisturizer now. This replaced two steps in my routine.
Fine lines around my eyes looked softer by week three. No new breakouts (which I was terrified of). My skin stopped feeling tight after washing — that dehydrated-taut feeling just vanished. Still have some texture on my chin, but that’s a different product’s job.
This is the clean beauty product that actually delivers on the promise. No hype, no bullshit, just one ingredient that works because it’s what your skin already wants.