The ingredient, explained

Isopropyl Palmitate

Isopropyl Palmitate has published research relevant to cosmetic safety assessment.

EmollientBindingMaskingPerfuming

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Ingredient guide

What it is and what it does

Isopropyl palmitate

About this ingredient: EU CosIng ingredient registry (via Open Beauty Facts taxonomy) ↗

Emollient: Helps soften and smooth the skin surface.
Binding: Helps the components of a product hold together.
Masking: Reduces or conceals the formula's underlying odour or taste.
Perfuming: A formulation role for perfume and aromatic raw materials that give a product its scent.

Function definitions: European Commission ingredient function definitions (SCCNFP/0299/00, pages 16 to 20) ↗ · Danish Environmental Protection Agency: Cosmetic fragrance functions ↗

Registry functions describe possible formulation roles, not results for a finished product. A dictionary entry is not an approval or a safety assessment.

A closer look

What the research shows

Safety assessment

The report reviewed animal toxicology and formulation irritation, sensitization and photo-reaction testing, including an isopropyl-palmitate-containing formulation.

What this does not tell us

Historical safety assessment applies to the uses and concentrations assessed, with formulation and group-data limitations. It does not demonstrate skin benefits. Publisher labels first publication 1990 despite the DOI containing 1982.

Sources for this summary. DOI 10.3109/10915818209013145 ↗

Research review checked Oct 1, 2026

Selective exact-identity review of 0 supplied local candidates and the targeted primary-source search recorded below. Bounded review, not a systematic search.

Ingredient research is not proof that a product containing this ingredient works.