Palmitic acid is widely used in a variety of applications, including personal care products and cosmetics, such as cleansers, skin-brightening serums, and facial masks.
Uses
In cosmetics, palmitic acid is used in skin makeup to hide blemishes. It is also used in certain surfactants as a cleaning agent.
Benefits
• Supports cellular functions
• Has anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering effects
• Supports skin health
• Works as an emollient and moisturiser
Usage Rate
The usage for this product depends on the nature of the formulation, thus there is no exact recommended concentration.
Strengths
It supports skin health, and has anti-inflammatory effects.
Caution
Palmitic acid is one of the most popular fatty acids used in skin care as an emollient or moisturiser. As a fatty acids, it combines with glycerol to make the many fats found in nature. Palmitic acid is most commonly produced from palm oil, although it is found in smaller amounts in other vegetable oils as well as dairy and meat. To produce pure palmitic acid, the oil is boiled to break the fatty acids off of the glycerol and then the different acids are separated out based on their boiling point.
In skin care products it is commonly used in the form of an alkali salt, where the fatty acid has been reacted with an alkali like sodium hydroxide to produce sodium palmitate.