A common fatty acid found in various vegetable oils, most notably palm and coconut oil. It is a strongly occlusive moisturizing, emollient, and emulsifying ingredient.
Moisturizing
Occlusive
Moisturizing (Occlusive)
Occlusives are moisturizing ingredients that seal moisture into the skin, forming a water-resistant barrier.
Occlusive
Moisturizing (Occlusive)
Occlusives are moisturizing ingredients that seal moisture into the skin, forming a water-resistant barrier.
Other functions
Emollient,
Emollient
Emollients fill the micro-cracks in the skin and leave it feeling soft and pleasant to the touch. Emollients are often mistakenly perceived as moisturizing ingredients.
Emollient,
Emollient
Emollients fill the micro-cracks in the skin and leave it feeling soft and pleasant to the touch. Emollients are often mistakenly perceived as moisturizing ingredients.
Cleansing,
Cleansing
Cleansing ingredients, also known as surfactants, clear dirt and buildup from the skin.
Cleansing,
Cleansing
Cleansing ingredients, also known as surfactants, clear dirt and buildup from the skin.
Fragrance,
Fragrance
Fragrance ingredients add scent to a product or hide ('mask') the undesired aroma of other ingredients.
Fragrance,
Fragrance
Fragrance ingredients add scent to a product or hide ('mask') the undesired aroma of other ingredients.
Emulsifying,
Emulsifying
Emulsifying – helps to mix water and oil together.
Emulsifying,
Emulsifying
Emulsifying – helps to mix water and oil together.
Opacifying
Opacifying
Opacifying – reflects light and creates opaque products.
Opacifying
Opacifying
Opacifying – reflects light and creates opaque products.
Origin
Botanical,
Botanical
Ingredients derived from plants, mosses, and lichens: extracts, oils, powders, juices and other types of processed plant materials.
Botanical,
Botanical
Ingredients derived from plants, mosses, and lichens: extracts, oils, powders, juices and other types of processed plant materials.
Animal
Animal
Ingredients derived from animals (including birds, fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and insects) or produced by animals (e.g. dairy- and egg-derived ingredients, bee products, silk, pearls, etc.)
Animal
Animal
Ingredients derived from animals (including birds, fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and insects) or produced by animals (e.g. dairy- and egg-derived ingredients, bee products, silk, pearls, etc.)
Myristic acid is a fatty acid, meaning that it is an acid with a long, lipid-soluble tail. It is specifically a saturated fatty acid, which means that its oil-soluble tail only contains single bonds. It is a very common fatty acid.
Myristic acid in skincare products helps to maintain the barrier function of the skin, prevents transepidermal water loss, is moisturizing (occlusive), and is an emollient. Since it is a saturated fatty acid, it is strongly occlusive, and so may not be suitable for very oily or acne-prone skin. It is also emulsifying, meaning that it helps water to mix with oil in a skincare product.
Myristic acid is mostly used in the production of soap. Various myristic acid salts are created (sodium myristate and potassium myristate are the most common) during the salt-making process. This means that a fatty acid turns into a soap molecule that cleans, foams, and works as a detergent.
The best source of myristic acid is various kinds of vegetable oils, notably palm and coconut oil.
Science
1
Yang, M., Zhou, M., Jia, Y., He, C., & Song, L. (2020). A review of fatty acids influencing skin condition. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
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Occlusive
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