Isopropyl Palmitate 500 g

Lightweight Emollient, Solvent & Spreading Agent for Cosmetic Formulations

Isopropyl Palmitate is a lightweight cosmetic ester widely used in skincare, hair-care, makeup and personal-care formulations.

It is valued primarily for its ability to improve:

• Spreadability
• Slip
• Skin feel
• Oil-phase texture
• Application properties
• Sensory performance

It is particularly useful when formulators want to reduce the heavy or greasy feel of richer vegetable oils and create a smoother, lighter finished product.

What Is Isopropyl Palmitate?

Isopropyl Palmitate is the ester formed from isopropyl alcohol and palmitic acid.

It is generally supplied as a clear, low-viscosity oily liquid and is widely used as an emollient and solvent in cosmetic formulations.

INCI Name: Isopropyl Palmitate
CAS Number: 142-91-6
Chemical Formula: C19H38O2
Product Type: Cosmetic Ester

Main Functions

Isopropyl Palmitate may function as:

• Emollient
• Solvent
• Spreading agent
• Skin-conditioning ingredient
• Texture modifier
• Oil-phase formulation aid

Its exact function depends on the complete formulation.

Lightweight Emollient

Isopropyl Palmitate is commonly used to improve the sensory profile of cosmetic products.

It can help create formulations that feel:

• Smoother
• More fluid
• Easier to spread
• Less heavy
• Less greasy

This makes it particularly useful in products containing richer vegetable oils and butters.

Is It a Moisturizer?

Isopropyl Palmitate is more accurately described as an emollient rather than a humectant.

It does not attract water in the same way as ingredients such as:

• Glycerin
• Sorbitol
• Sodium PCA

Instead, it improves skin feel and contributes to the lipid phase of the formulation.

Use in Creams & Lotions

Isopropyl Palmitate is widely used in emulsified cosmetic products.

Suitable applications include:

• Facial creams
• Body lotions
• Hand creams
• Lightweight moisturizers
• Body milks
• After-shave products

It can help improve:

• Application
• Slip
• Oil-phase spreadability
• Sensory elegance
• Finished texture

Use in Facial Products

It can be used in:

• Facial creams
• Oil-based serums
• Cleansing oils
• Makeup removers
• Lightweight cosmetic oils

The ideal level depends on the desired skin feel.

Use in Makeup

Isopropyl Palmitate is especially useful in color cosmetics because of its solvent and spreading properties.

Possible applications include:

• Foundations
• BB creams
• Concealers
• Lip products
• Eye makeup
• Makeup bases

It can help improve pigment wetting, application and product slip depending on the formulation.

Hair-Care Applications

Isopropyl Palmitate may also be incorporated into hair-care formulations such as:

• Hair serums
• Conditioners
• Hair masks
• Leave-in products
• Hair oils
• Styling products

It can contribute to:

• Smoother hair feel
• Improved slip
• Easier spreading
• Improved shine
• Reduced heavy oil sensation

It should not be described as directly preventing hair breakage or treating damaged hair.

Use in Body Oils

Isopropyl Palmitate can be combined with botanical carrier oils to create lighter body-oil systems.

Possible combinations include:

• Sweet Almond Oil
• Jojoba Oil
• Argan Oil
• Avocado Oil
• Grapeseed Oil
• Safflower Oil

It can help reduce the rich or oily feel of some vegetable oil blends.

Use in Sunscreen Formulations

Isopropyl Palmitate may be used as part of the oil phase of certain sunscreen formulations.

However, it is not a UV filter.

It does not provide SPF by itself.

Any sunscreen claim must be based on:

• Permitted UV filters
• Correct finished-product formulation
• SPF testing
• UVA testing
• Applicable regulatory requirements

Isopropyl Palmitate in Soap Making

Isopropyl Palmitate is not a conventional soap-making base oil.

Traditional soap is made by saponifying triglyceride oils and fats such as:

• Olive Oil
• Coconut Oil
• Castor Oil
• Shea Butter

with sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.

Isopropyl Palmitate should therefore not be treated as a direct replacement for these oils.

Cold Process Soap

Routine addition of Isopropyl Palmitate to cold process soap is not generally necessary.

The strong alkaline environment can affect ester ingredients, and the final behavior depends on:

• NaOH concentration
• Temperature
• Formula composition
• Processing conditions

Use in cold process soap should therefore be based on an intentionally developed and tested formulation rather than a generic percentage recommendation.

Melt & Pour Soap

Small experimental levels may be evaluated in some melt and pour systems, but additional oily materials can affect:

• Bar hardness
• Lather
• Transparency
• Sweating
• Final texture

Always test compatibility with the specific soap base before commercial use.

Typical Cosmetic Usage Levels

Actual use level depends on the product type and supplier recommendation.

General formulation starting points may include:

Creams & Lotions

1–10%

Body & Facial Oils

5–20%

Makeup Products

1–15%

Hair-Care Formulations

1–5%

These are formulation starting ranges rather than universal limits.

Always follow the actual TDS and finished-product testing.

Oil Solubility

Isopropyl Palmitate is an oil-compatible ingredient and is practically insoluble in water.

It can be incorporated into:

• Oil phases
• Anhydrous systems
• Emulsions
• Suitable solvent systems

In water-based emulsions, it is normally incorporated through the oil phase and requires a suitable emulsification system.

pH Information

Because Isopropyl Palmitate is essentially an anhydrous oily ester, assigning it a general cosmetic “pH compatibility of 4.5–7.0” is not particularly meaningful.

pH should instead be evaluated for the finished water-containing formulation.

Does It Increase Penetration?

Isopropyl esters can influence the sensory behavior and interaction of formulations with skin.

However, for a general raw-material product page, it is better not to market Isopropyl Palmitate primarily as a “penetration enhancer” unless that function is specifically required and substantiated for the formulation.

Its clearer cosmetic positioning is:

• Emollient
• Solvent
• Spreading agent

Skin Type Considerations

Do not describe Isopropyl Palmitate as universally non-comedogenic or suitable for every skin type.

Individual skin response can vary according to:

• Concentration
• Product format
• Complete formulation
• Skin type

Finished facial products should therefore be evaluated as complete formulations.

Product Details

Product Name: Isopropyl Palmitate
INCI Name: Isopropyl Palmitate
CAS Number: 142-91-6
Chemical Formula: C19H38O2
Weight: 500 g
Form: Clear Oily Liquid
Primary Functions: Emollient / Solvent / Spreading Agent
Water Solubility: Practically Insoluble
Applications: Skincare, Hair Care, Makeup and Personal-Care Formulations

Purity

Only describe the product as:

100% Pure Isopropyl Palmitate

if this is supported by the supplier COA.

For professional manufacturing, always refer to:

• COA
• SDS
• Technical Data Sheet
• Supplier specification

for actual purity and physical parameters.

Safety Information

Isopropyl Palmitate is supplied as a cosmetic formulation raw material.

During professional handling:

• Avoid direct eye contact.
• Avoid ingestion.
• Wear suitable gloves where appropriate.
• Follow normal laboratory hygiene.
• Keep out of reach of children.
• Follow the supplier SDS.
• Evaluate the finished cosmetic product for its intended use.

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review has evaluated Isopropyl Palmitate within cosmetic-use safety assessments; finished-product safety still depends on formulation and use conditions.

Storage

Store Isopropyl Palmitate:

• In tightly closed packaging
• In a cool and dry environment
• Away from direct sunlight
• Away from excessive heat
• Protected from contamination

At lower temperatures, physical changes such as cloudiness or partial solidification may occur depending on grade and storage conditions.

Wholesale, Private Label & Contract Manufacturing

We also supply Isopropyl Palmitate, cosmetic esters, emulsifiers, surfactants, botanical oils and other cosmetic raw materials in wholesale quantities for cosmetic brands, laboratories, manufacturers, retailers and professional formulators.

In addition to raw material supply, we provide private label and contract manufacturing services for creams, lotions, body oils, hair-care products, cleansing products and other customized cosmetic formulations.

Custom products can be developed with different emollient systems, botanical oils, active ingredients, fragrances, textures, packaging formats and private label designs.

For bulk Isopropyl Palmitate orders, private label products or contract manufacturing, please contact us with your required quantity, product concept, formulation requirements, packaging format, target market and estimated production volume.