Ingredient

Palmitic Acid

The most common saturated fatty acid in animals and plants (C16) and a natural component of your own skin lipids, used in cosmetics as an emollient, emulsifier, and foam-building cleansing agent (it saponifies into sodium palmitate soap).

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Similar ingredients

others that do something alike

Squalane

A lightweight, skin-identical oil that moisturizes without clogging.

Argan oil

Argan oil; smooths frizz and adds shine.

Bakuchiol

A plant-based alternative to retinol with similar smoothing benefits and less irritation.

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

Benefits

Skin-identical fatty acid that helps moisturizers feel smooth and emollient
Helps emulsify formulas and build foam in cleansers and shaving products

Side effects

Mildly comedogenic (commonly rated around 2/5), so it may contribute to clogged pores in those prone to them
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

Most skin types as a supporting emollient/emulsifier; dry skin appreciates its smoothing feel

Who should be careful

Very acne-prone or fungal-acne (Malassezia folliculitis)-prone skin may want to limit fatty-acid-heavy products

Palmitic acid - Wikipediaencyclopedia
Palmitic Acid - INCIDecoder

Products with Palmitic Acid (92)

Nivea

NIVEA Soft Moisturizing Cream

skincare · moisturizer

L'Oréal Paris

L’Oréal Paris Hyaluron Uzmanı Cilt Dolgunlaştıran Nemlendirici Krem Gece

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