Good Emollient Dermal Penetration

Isopropyl Palmitate

INCI: ISOPROPYL PALMITATE

CAS Number
142-91-6
Function
Isopropyl ester of palmitic acid (C16:0). Lightweight-to-moderate emollient with good spreading properties. Functions as emollient, skin-conditioning agent, and formulation vehicle. Synthetically defined with excellent batch-to-batch consistency. Slightly heavier sensory profile than isopropyl myristate (IPM, C14) due to longer C16 chain.
Safety Rating
GOOD

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status permitted
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes CIR reviewed and considered safe at current use concentrations. Slightly heavier sensory profile than IPM. Moderate comedogenic concern — not preferred in acne-prone facial formulations. Good spreading properties make it useful in body lotions, sunscreens, and hair care applications. FDA no specific restrictions.

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
moderate
Sensitization
low

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Dermal Penetration Profile

Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Isopropyl Palmitate, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.

Absorption %
4-10%
Penetration Level
stratum-corneum
Penetration Depth
stratum corneum
Molecular Weight
298.5 Da
Log P
8.2
Systemic Absorption
minimal
Topical Bioavailability
2-8%
Safety Margin Factor
low
Vehicle Dependent
Yes — absorption varies by formulation

Source: CIR

Expert Verdict

Isopropyl ester of palmitic acid with good spreading properties and established safety (CIR reviewed). Synthetically defined with batch consistency advantage over natural oils for GMP-compliant production. Slightly heavier sensory profile than isopropyl myristate (C14) due to C16 chain — good choice for body lotions, sunscreens, and hair care. Moderate comedogenic concern limits use in acne-prone facial formulations; non-comedogenic alternatives preferred for acne lines.

⚠️
Concern Level: Moderate

Regulatory Flags

emollient-ester comedogenic-risk not-for-acne-prone cir-assessed synthetically-defined spreading-agent eu_children_restricted epa_safer_alternative ifra_fragrance fda_food_additive

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Isopropyl Palmitate safe in cosmetics?

Isopropyl ester of palmitic acid with good spreading properties and established safety (CIR reviewed). Synthetically defined with batch consistency advantage over natural oils for GMP-compliant production. Slightly heavier sensory profile than isopropyl myristate (C14) due to C16 chain — good choice for body lotions, sunscreens, and hair care. Moderate comedogenic concern limits use in acne-prone facial formulations; non-comedogenic alternatives preferred for acne lines. The EU classifies Isopropyl Palmitate as "permitted". Safety rating: GOOD.

Is Isopropyl Palmitate allowed in the EU?

Isopropyl Palmitate EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Isopropyl Palmitate do in cosmetics?

Isopropyl Palmitate functions as: Isopropyl ester of palmitic acid (C16:0). Lightweight-to-moderate emollient with good spreading properties. Functions as emollient, skin-conditioning agent, and formulation vehicle. Synthetically defined with excellent batch-to-batch consistency. Slightly heavier sensory profile than isopropyl myristate (IPM, C14) due to longer C16 chain.. It is classified as a Emollient in our database. CAS number: 142-91-6.

What is the Margin of Safety for Isopropyl Palmitate?

adequate The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

Compliance Tools

Check Isopropyl Palmitate compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
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Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
 ⚗️
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions

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