Trimyristin

TL;DR. This ingredient functions mainly as an emollient and skin-conditioning lipid, adding slip, softness, and a richer afterfeel to creams, balms, and anhydrous products. It can also help structure oil phases and improve product body.

What does Trimyristin do in a cosmetic formula?

This ingredient functions mainly as an emollient and skin-conditioning lipid, adding slip, softness, and a richer afterfeel to creams, balms, and anhydrous products. It can also help structure oil phases and improve product body.

Is Trimyristin clean?

From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient is generally well tolerated and does not carry common restricted-list concerns. In richer leave-on formulas, it may feel heavy for some oily or blemish-prone skin types.

Is Trimyristin sustainable?

This material is typically sourced from plant-derived fats and is readily biodegradable as a simple lipid ester. Sustainability depends on the specific crop and supply chain, with stronger alignment when feedstocks are traceable and responsibly sourced.

Is Trimyristin COSMOS-approved?

It is permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic when derived from approved natural sources and processed according to the standard. It fits Green Chemistry principles well because it can come from renewable feedstocks, uses familiar ester chemistry, and biodegrades through normal lipid breakdown pathways.

How does Trimyristin work chemically?

The molecule is a triglyceride made from glycerol esterified with three saturated C14 fatty acid chains, giving it a waxy, hydrophobic profile and good oxidative stability compared with unsaturated oils. It is typically used in low to moderate amounts in emulsions, sticks, and balms, and it is stable across normal cosmetic pH because it sits in the oil phase rather than the water phase.

Last updated 2026-05-15