INCI name

SODIUM PALMITATE

Sodium palmitate

Cleansing Surfactant – emulsifying Surfactant – cleansing Viscosity controllingreviewed

The sodium salt of palmitic acid, a soap.

What it is

Sodium palmitate is the sodium salt of palmitic acid, a saturated fatty acid. CosIng lists it as cleansing, emulsifying surfactant, cleansing surfactant and viscosity controlling.

Where it is used

Used mainly in bar soaps and also in cleansing products and shaving products.

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 reveal whether the palmitic acid comes from palm oil, other plant oils or animal fats.

Functions

Cleansing: Helping to keep the body surface clean.
Surfactant – emulsifying: Helping suspensions or dispersions of liquids in a second liquid by reducing the surface tension of the substances to be emulsified.
Surfactant – cleansing: Wetting body surfaces, emulsifying or solubilizing oils, and suspending soil (generally, such ingredients contribute to the foaming and lathering properties of cleansing products).
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.

Products with this ingredient (35)

Check a full ingredient list