Isopropyl Palmitate
Isopropyl Palmitate is a lightweight, non-greasy emollient commonly used in UK skincare and makeup to give products a silky, smooth feel. It helps moisturise the skin while improving spreadability, making it a popular ingredient in creams, lotions, lipsticks and foundations.
How it works in skincare
In cosmetics and skincare, isopropyl palmitate works as an emollient and texture enhancer. It forms a thin, breathable layer on the skin that locks in moisture without leaving a heavy or oily residue. Derived from palmitic acid, it improves the spreadability of formulations, helps active ingredients glide evenly across the skin, and gives products a luxurious, velvety finish that feels elegant during application.
Key benefits
- Provides lightweight hydration
- Improves product spreadability and glide
- Leaves skin feeling soft and smooth
- Enhances the silky texture of creams and lotions
- Helps reduce greasiness in formulations
- Gives makeup and lip products a comfortable, non-sticky finish
Best for
dry skin, normal skin, combination skin, mature skin
Where it comes from
Isopropyl palmitate is produced by combining palmitic acid (naturally found in palm oil and coconut oil) with isopropyl alcohol. While the fatty acid component is plant-derived, the final ingredient is a synthetic ester created through esterification.
Products with Isopropyl Palmitate
Not every product on UK Lips lists a full ingredient breakdown — so there may be many more formulas that contain Isopropyl Palmitate than we can show here. These are the comparisons where we’ve confirmed it in the listed ingredients.