The magnesium salt of palmitic acid, used as an anticaking, opacifying and viscosity-controlling ingredient.
What it is
Magnesium palmitate is magnesium dipalmitate, the magnesium salt of palmitic acid, a saturated C16 fatty acid (a metallic soap). CosIng lists it as an anticaking, opacifying and viscosity-controlling ingredient.
Where it is used
Appears on the ingredient lists of a small number of products, such as powders and other makeup.
Limits of interpretation
The INCI list shows which ingredients are present, not how much of each. Above 1%, ingredients are listed in descending order of weight; below 1% the order is free.
The INCI name does not show whether the palmitic acid is of plant or animal origin.
Functions
- Anticaking
- Preventing agglomeration of particulate solids into lumps or hard masses (cohesive cake), thus allowing free flow of particles.
- Opacifying
- Reducing transparency or translucency of cosmetics.
- Viscosity controlling
- Increasing or decreasing the viscosity (thickness) of cosmetics.
EU regulation
This ingredient is not listed in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 in the CosIng data.