C15-23 Alkane ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a lightweight emollient and slip agent, used to give creams, sunscreens, makeup, and hair products a dry, silky feel. It can also help disperse pigments and replace some sensory functions usually provided by silicones.
What does C15-23 Alkane do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a lightweight emollient and slip agent, used to give creams, sunscreens, makeup, and hair products a dry, silky feel. It can also help disperse pigments and replace some sensory functions usually provided by silicones.
Is C15-23 Alkane clean?
This material is generally well tolerated, low in odor, and not a common sensitizer. Clean-standard friction is mainly about source and processing, since the same type of molecule may be renewable-derived or petroleum-derived depending on supplier.
Is C15-23 Alkane sustainable?
This compound may be made from renewable plant or fermentation feedstocks, but the INCI name alone does not confirm that source. It is a saturated hydrocarbon mixture with better biodegradability than many silicone fluids, though supply-chain documentation matters.
Is C15-23 Alkane COSMOS-approved?
It can fit COSMOS-natural when made from permitted natural-origin feedstocks through accepted processes, but a petrochemical version would not have the same alignment. From a Green Chemistry view, the strongest case is a renewable source, high purity, low reactivity, and improved biodegradation versus persistent silicone alternatives.
How does C15-23 Alkane work chemically?
The molecule is a blend of linear and branched saturated hydrocarbons in the mid-chain range, which explains its low polarity, spreadability, and oxidation stability. It is typically used as part of the oil phase, is stable across normal cosmetic pH ranges because it is nonionic, and is compatible with oils, waxes, esters, pigments, and many UV-filter systems.
Last updated 2026-05-13