What it is
Aluminum myristate is a metallic soap made from aluminum and myristic acid, a medium-chain fatty acid. It is commonly used to surface-treat or coat pigments and powders, giving them better flow, water repellency at the particle surface, and smoother adhesion to skin. In pressed powders and pact-style sun bases it helps prevent caking and contributes a soft, slippery feel.
Safety & warnings
Aluminum soaps of fatty acids are generally regarded as well tolerated and non-irritating in topical cosmetic use. It is not a recognized fragrance allergen. As a fatty-acid-derived powder coating it is used at low levels and is not typically flagged as a comedogenic oil.
Origin & sourcing
Synthetic, derived from myristic acid (a fatty acid found in plant and animal fats) combined with an aluminum compound.
Questions everyone asks
Why is aluminum myristate used in powder sunscreens?
It coats pigments and fillers to improve flow and adhesion, prevent caking, and give the powder a smoother feel on application.
Does it provide UV protection?
No. It is a texture and powder-treatment ingredient, not a UV filter.