Isohexadecane ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a lightweight emollient and solvent used to give slip, reduce greasiness, dissolve oil-soluble materials, and help long-wear makeup spread evenly.
What does Isohexadecane do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a lightweight emollient and solvent used to give slip, reduce greasiness, dissolve oil-soluble materials, and help long-wear makeup spread evenly.
Is Isohexadecane clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is generally low-irritation and non-sensitizing, but it has friction because it is a synthetic petrochemical-derived hydrocarbon. Some standards and retailers flag it due to sourcing and environmental persistence concerns rather than routine skin compatibility issues.
Is Isohexadecane sustainable?
This material is typically made from petroleum-derived feedstocks, so it has limited renewable-sourcing alignment. It is not considered a strong biodegradability fit, and its environmental profile is less favorable than readily biodegradable plant-derived esters or oils.
Is Isohexadecane COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic because it is a synthetic petrochemical-derived material. Its Green Chemistry alignment is weak due to nonrenewable sourcing and limited biodegradability, although it is chemically stable and usually does not require aggressive preservation support.
How does Isohexadecane work chemically?
The molecule is a branched, saturated 16-carbon hydrocarbon, which makes it nonpolar, water-insoluble, and useful for dissolving lipophilic pigments, waxes, and film-formers. It is typically used around 1% to 20% in emulsions and makeup, can be higher in anhydrous or cleansing formats, and is broadly pH-stable because it has no hydrolyzable functional groups.
Last updated 2026-05-13