Ingredient dictionary

Palmitic Acid

Also listed as: Hexadecanoic Acid

Palmitic Acid is a natural fatty acid found in palm oil, shea butter and animal fats. It mainly helps thicken and firm up creams and bars. It is on the label of 110 products in our library. Checked against our library November 6, 2026.

What Palmitic Acid does

Thickens creams, lotions and body butters
Gives bars and cleansers a firm body
Adds structure to mascara and sticks

Palmitic acid is one of the most common fatty acids in nature. It is found in palm oil, shea butter, cocoa butter and animal fats. Manufacturers usually get it from these oils and refine it into a purer form.

Formulators use it because it is solid at room temperature and gives a creamy, slightly waxy structure. It helps thicken lotions and creams, and it adds firmness to bars and sticks. In soap bars, it reacts with an alkali to form a soap, which is why it appears in many cleansers. In mascara, it helps build body. On skin, it feels smooth and cushiony rather than greasy.

Good for

Suits most skin types, since it is a common fatty ingredient in everyday moisturizers, cleansers and sunscreens.

Frequently asked questions

Is palmitic acid bad for skin?

No. Palmitic acid is a natural fat found in the skin's own oils, and it is generally well tolerated. Most people use products containing it without trouble. If you know you react to fatty ingredients, patch-test new products first.

Is palmitic acid the same as palm oil?

No. Palm oil is a fat made from palm fruit, and palmitic acid is one of the fatty acids inside it. Palm oil also contains other fatty acids, so the two are not the same.