Emollients

An emollient is an ingredient that softens and smooths skin by filling the gaps between skin cells and reducing roughness. In a formula it also sets the feel of the product, controlling how fast it absorbs and how much slip it has. Common emollients include plant oils, esters, fatty alcohols, and silicones.

Common emollients include esters like isopropyl myristate, fatty alcohols like cetyl alcohol, silicones like dimethicone, lanolin, and plant oils and butters. This collection carries isopropyl myristate, cetyl alcohol, dimethicone, and lanolin, plus a hydrating humectant and a hair-conditioning protein.

An emollient softens and smooths the skin. A humectant, like sodium hyaluronate or glycerine, draws water into the skin. An occlusive seals water in to stop it evaporating. Most good moisturizers combine all three, which is why formulators keep examples of each on hand.

Isopropyl myristate is a lightweight emollient ester that absorbs fast and cuts the greasy feel of heavier oils and butters, improving spreadability in creams, lotions, and balms. It can also help other ingredients penetrate the skin. It is usually used at about 2 to 5 percent.

Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, not a drying alcohol. It acts as an emollient that adds a creamy, cushioned feel and also helps thicken and stabilize an emulsion, keeping a lotion or cream from separating. It is a common co-emulsifier alongside emulsifying wax.

Dimethicone is a widely used silicone emollient that gives a smooth, silky finish and improves how a product spreads. It sits on the surface to soften and protect, and it is non-comedogenic for most people. It is popular in primers, serums, and hair products for its light, non-greasy slip.

It depends on the ingredient and the product. Fatty esters like isopropyl myristate typically sit at 2 to 5 percent, silicones at a few percent, and fatty alcohols at 1 to 5 percent as part of the emulsion. Follow the suggested use level on each listing and adjust to the feel you want.