COCONUT ACID
COCONUT ACID is a mixture of fatty acids obtained from the fatty portion of coconut. It is not the same as coconut oil: the name refers to the fatty-acid fraction, which can be used as a raw material in cleansers, soaps, and emulsions.
COCONUT ACID: what it is
COCONUT ACID is a mixture of fatty acids obtained from the fatty portion of coconut. It is not the same as coconut oil: the name refers to the fatty-acid fraction, which can be used as a raw material in cleansers, soaps, and emulsions.
Coconut supplies several fatty acids, and the oil composition varies with the source material. In an analysis of virgin coconut oil from different cultivars, lauric acid was the most abundant component; this helps explain why COCONUT ACID is best understood as a mixture rather than one single substance with a fixed composition.
COCONUT ACID: what it does in cosmetics
In rinse-off products, COCONUT ACID can contribute to cleansing by helping oil and residues disperse in water. As a surfactant, it helps water and oily material come together; in practical terms, that can make it easier for soil to be carried away during rinsing instead of remaining on the skin.
It can also help keep the water-based and oil-based portions of an emulsion together and contribute to a softer skin feel through its emollient action. The published assessment that included COCONUT ACID is a cosmetic-ingredient safety review; it does not show that the isolated ingredient treats dryness, acne, or any skin condition.
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
