What it is
This ingredient is a bulky ester built from dimer dilinoleyl alcohol and dimer dilinoleic acid, both derived from linoleic acid. Its branched structure gives a rich, cushiony slip while resisting a heavy or oily feel, and it helps thicken oil phases and keep pigments well dispersed. It appears frequently in cushion and cream sunscreens where a smooth, plush texture is desired.
Safety & warnings
Dimer acid esters of this kind are generally well tolerated and considered low-irritation in cosmetic use.
Origin & sourcing
Synthetic ester; both the alcohol and acid portions are derived from dimerized linoleic acid, a fatty acid commonly obtained from vegetable oils.
Questions everyone asks
Why is it used in cushion sunscreens?
Its branched structure provides a cushiony, non-greasy slip and helps thicken the oil phase while keeping pigments evenly dispersed.
Where does it come from?
It is a synthetic ester whose linoleic acid building blocks are typically derived from vegetable oils.