Ingredient

Lauric Acid

A saturated medium-chain (C12) fatty acid that makes up nearly half of coconut and palm kernel oil, used in cosmetics mainly as a cleansing, emulsifying, and surfactant ingredient (it saponifies into soap).

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Cica

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

Good to know

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

What it does

limited evidence

It has shown notable antibacterial activity against the acne bacterium Cutibacterium (Propionibacterium) acnes in lab studies.

Benefits

Acts as a cleansing/foaming surfactant and emulsifier when saponified
Lab studies show strong antibacterial activity against acne-causing C. acnes (one study needed far lower concentrations than benzoyl peroxide to inhibit it)
Inexpensive, widely available coconut-derived fatty acid

Side effects

Highly comedogenic (often rated 4/5), so it can clog pores and trigger breakouts on acne-prone facial skin
Falls 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
The anti-acne data is laboratory-based, not from human face trials

Who it's for

Mainly a formulation aid (soaps, cleansers); body care where pore-clogging is less of a concern

Who should be careful

Acne-prone, comedone-prone, or fungal-acne (Malassezia folliculitis)-prone skin should be cautious on the face

Products with Lauric Acid (26)

Nivea

NIVEA Soft Moisturizing Cream

skincare · moisturizer

Arko Nem

Arko Nem Değerli Yağlar Hindistan Cevizi Yağı İçeren Bakım Kremi

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