The ingredient, explained

Palmitic Acid

Palmitic Acid has published research relevant to cosmetic safety assessment.

EmollientEmulsifying

Explore connections

Ingredient guide

What it is and what it does

Hexadecanoic acid

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

Emollient: Helps soften and smooth the skin surface.
Emulsifying: Helps liquids that do not normally mix form a mixture.

Function definitions: European Commission ingredient function definitions (SCCNFP/0299/00, pages 16 to 20) ↗

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 found no genotoxicity concern and assessed other toxicity endpoints using exposure thresholds, read-across and available data.

What this does not tell us

Assessment covers described fragrance exposures and uses modelling for several endpoints. It is not an efficacy trial or an unrestricted cosmetic safety guarantee.

Sources for this summary. PubMed 31751645 ↗

Research review checked Oct 1, 2026

Selective exact-identity review of 1 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.

Read the 1 selected study

Safety assessment
RIFM fragrance ingredient safety assessment, palmitic acid, CAS Registry Number 57-10-3. ↗
Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association · 2019

Follow the formula