What it is
Palmitic acid is a saturated fatty acid with sixteen carbon atoms (C16:0), IUPAC name hexadecanoic acid, formula CH3(CH2)14COOH. It is the most common saturated fatty acid found in animals, plants, and microorganisms, making up a large share of palm oil and of the fat in meats, cheeses, and butter. In cosmetics it contributes to texture and skin feel as an emollient and helps build and stabilize emulsions; when reacted with alkali it forms soaps such as sodium palmitate, which act as cleansing surfactants. It is a waxy, oil-soluble solid that gives products body and a smooth, conditioned feel.
Safety & warnings
Palmitic acid is a common, naturally occurring fatty acid found in skin and many foods, and in cosmetics it is generally well tolerated as an emollient and emulsifier. As a fatty acid it is most relevant as a building block for soaps and creams rather than as a notable irritant. Health concerns about palmitic acid relate to dietary intake and blood cholesterol, not to its topical cosmetic use.
Origin & sourcing
Palmitic acid is found widely in both plant and animal fats; it makes up a large fraction of palm oil from the oil palm Elaeis guineensis and a substantial share of animal fats such as butter and meat. Industrially it is obtained by saponifying or hydrolyzing palm oil, after which the triglycerides are split with high-temperature water and the fatty acids are separated by fractional distillation.
History
Palmitic acid was discovered in 1840 by the French chemist Edmond Frémy, who obtained it by saponifying palm oil, the process that gives the acid its name and that remains the primary industrial route. Earlier foundational work by Michel-Eugène Chevreul on the chemistry of fats and saponification underpinned the isolation of fatty acids such as palmitic, stearic, and oleic acid.
Questions everyone asks
What is palmitic acid used for in skincare?
It works as an emollient and emulsifier that improves texture and skin feel, and reacted with alkali it forms soaps used as cleansing surfactants.
Where does palmitic acid come from?
It is found in palm oil and in animal fats like butter and meat, and is typically obtained industrially by saponifying or hydrolyzing palm oil.
Is palmitic acid bad for skin?
It is a naturally occurring fatty acid generally well tolerated on skin; the health concerns linked to palmitic acid relate to diet and cholesterol, not topical use.