Today is shark awareness day. Behold the majestic Angel Shark (Squatina squatina), images courtesy of Bespoke Diving Adventures (http://www.bespokedivingadventures.co.uk/), ranked as the second most threatened family of sharks, skates and rays in the world.
Did you know that a common cosmetic ingredient, squalene or squalane, can be either derived from vegetable matter, or extracted from shark liver? The thing is that EU Cosmetics Regulations do not require a distinction between the two sources on product labels so you have no way of knowing whether your skin cream has come at the expense of a shark or not…. unless you ask.
Be an Angel, and check your cosmetics (including sunscreen) for the ingredient SQUALENE or SQUALANE, and check with the manufacturer that no sharks were killed to make your product before you make a purchase.
