The ingredient, explained

Linolenic Acid

Linolenic Acid has published research relevant to cosmetic safety assessment.

EmollientAntistaticCleansingHair conditioningPerfumingSkin conditioningSurfactant

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Ingredient guide

What it is and what it does

9‚12‚15-Octadecatrienoic acid -9Z, 12Z, 15Z-

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

Emollient: Helps soften and smooth the skin surface.
Antistatic: Reduces the build-up of static electrical charge on surfaces.
Cleansing: Helps remove material from the body surface.
Hair conditioning: Improves cosmetic hair properties such as softness, shine or combability.
Perfuming: A formulation role for perfume and aromatic raw materials that give a product its scent.
Skin conditioning: A broad cosmetic role for maintaining skin condition. It does not identify a particular clinical benefit.
Surfactant: Changes surface tension to help a product distribute or interact with other materials.

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 reviews toxicological endpoints, including laboratory sensitization signals, and requires non-irritating, non-sensitizing formulations.

What this does not tell us

Read-across and preparation-dependent evidence; oxidation products and enhanced coingredient penetration require consideration. Oral oils or gamma-linolenic acid trials cannot establish free alpha-linolenic acid skin efficacy.

Sources for this summary. Published source ↗

Research review checked Oct 1, 2026

Selective exact-identity review of 9 supplied local candidates and the targeted primary-source search recorded below. Bounded review, not a systematic search.