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Ingredient

Myristic Acid

A saturated 14-carbon fatty acid found in nutmeg butter, coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and butterfat, used in cosmetics chiefly as a foam-building cleansing surfactant and emulsifier (it reacts with alkali to form soap).

Key facts

INCI name
Myristic Acid
Evidence grade
limited evidence
In our catalog
Found in 49 of the 1,914 products we've decoded
Pore-clogging
3/5 (a contested measure — take it lightly)
Fungal acne
Reported trigger
Reviewed
Shop products with this →or browse all in the catalog

Similar ingredients

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Cica

The 'cica' plant extract famous for calming stressed, sensitive skin.

Caffeine

Temporarily de-puffs and brightens the look of tired skin and under-eyes.

Good to know

Fungal-acne triggercaution

Can feed Malassezia yeast — a trigger for fungal acne (pityrosporum folliculitis) in people prone to it.

What it does

limited evidence

Benefits

  • Foam-building cleansing/surfactant agent in face washes, shaving foams, and soaps
  • Helps emulsify and stabilize oil-and-water formulas

Side effects

  • Soap-based cleansing from myristic acid can be drying or stripping for some skin
  • Moderately comedogenic (commonly rated around 3/5), so it may contribute to clogged pores
  • Sits within the C11-C24 fatty-acid range that lipid-dependent Malassezia yeast can feed on, so it is generally flagged as a potential fungal-acne (Malassezia folliculitis) trigger

Who it's for

Mostly a formulation aid in cleansers and soaps; normal to oily skin that tolerates foaming washes

Who should be careful

Dry, sensitive, acne-prone, or fungal-acne (Malassezia folliculitis)-prone skin should be cautious

Researched & reviewed · July 2, 2026

Products with Myristic Acid (48)

NIVEA Soft Moisturizing Cream
Nivea
NIVEA Soft Moisturizing Cream
skincare · moisturizer
L'Oréal Paris Yaş Uzmanı 45+ Retino Peptit Kırışıklık Karşıtı Sıkılaştırıcı Gündüz Kremi
L'Oréal Paris
L'Oréal Paris Yaş Uzmanı 45+ Retino Peptit Kırışıklık Karşıtı Sıkılaştırıcı Gündüz Kremi
skincare · moisturizer
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream
Kiehl's
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream
skincare · moisturizer
Arko Nem Değerli Yağlar Hindistan Cevizi Yağı İçeren Bakım Kremi
Arko Nem
Arko Nem Değerli Yağlar Hindistan Cevizi Yağı İçeren Bakım Kremi
skincare · moisturizer
Dove Nemlendirici Sıvı Sabun Caring
Dove
Dove Nemlendirici Sıvı Sabun Caring
skincare · cleanser
Rice cleansing foam
Unknown brand
Rice cleansing foam
skincare · cleanser
Creme Gesicht - Körper - Hände
Nivea
Creme Gesicht - Körper - Hände
skincare · moisturizer
Arko Nem Soft Touch
Arko
Arko Nem Soft Touch
skincare · moisturizer
Ultra Facial Cream
Kiehl's
Ultra Facial Cream
skincare · moisturizer
Nivea Soft
Nivea
Nivea Soft
skincare · moisturizer
Effaclar Deep Cleaning Foaming Crem
La Roche-Posay
Effaclar Deep Cleaning Foaming Crem
skincare · moisturizer
Bio-Hydratante
Pond's
Bio-Hydratante
skincare · moisturizer
See all 48 in search →

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