Lauryl Myristate
What Is It?
Myristic Acid is a fatty acidA natural organic compound that consists of a carboxyl group (oxygen, carbon and hydrogen) attached to a chain of carbon atoms with their associated hydrogen atoms. The chain of carbon atoms may be connected with single bonds, making a ‘saturated’ fat; or it may contain some double bonds, making an ‘unsaturated’ fat. The number of carbon and hydrogen atoms in the chain is what determines the qualities of that particular fatty acid. Animal and vegetable fats are made up of various combinations of fatty acids (in sets of three) connected to a glycerol molecule, making them triglycerides. that occurs naturally in some foods. Purified Myristic Acid occurs as a hard, white or faintly yellow, glossy crystalline solid, or as a white or yellow-white powder. Salts of Myristic Acid (Aluminum Dimyristate, Aluminum Isostearates/Myristate, Aluminum Myristate, Aluminum Myristates/Palmitates, Calcium Myristate, Magnesium Myristate, Potassium Myristate, Sodium Myristate, Zinc Myristate) and esters of Myristic Acid (Butyl Myristate, Cetyl Myristate, Decyl Myristate, Ethylhexyl Myristate, Ethyl Myristate, Glyceryl Dimyristate, Glyceryl Isostearate/Myristate, Glyceryl Myristate, Isobutyl Myristate, Isocetyl Myristate, Isodecyl Myristate, Isopropyl Myristate, Isostearyl Myristate, Isotridecyl Myristate, Lauryl Myristate, Methyl Myristate, Myristyl Myristate, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Oleyl Myristate, Propylene Glycol Myristate, Tetradecyloctadecyl Myristate, Tridecyl Myristate) may also be used in cosmetics and personal care products. Myristic Acid and its salts and esters may be used in eye makeup, soaps and detergents, hair care products, nail care products, shaving products and other skin care products.
Why Is It Used?
The following functions have been reported for Myristic Acid and its salts and esters.
- Anticaking agentIngredients or processing aids that prevent powdered or granular substances from forming clumps. – Aluminum Dimyristate, Aluminum Isostearates/Myristates, Aluminum Myristate, Aluminum Myristates/Palmitates, Calcium Myristate, Magnesium Myristate, Zinc Myristate
- BinderIngredients that hold together the ingredients of a compressed tablet or cake. – Isopropyl Myristate, Isostearyl Myristate, Tetradecyloctyldecyl Myristate
- Emulsion stabilizerIngredients that help to keep an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components. – Aluminum Dimyristate, Aluminum Isostearates/Myristates, Aluminum Myristate, Aluminum Myristates/Palmitates, Calcium Myristate, Tetradecyloctyldecyl Myristate
- Film formerIngredients that dry to form a thin coating on the skin, hair or nails. – Tetradecyloctyldecyl Myristate
- Hair conditioning agentIngredients that enhance the appearance and feel of hair, by increasing hair body, suppleness, or sheen, or by improving the texture of hair that has been damaged physically or by chemical treatment. – Ethyl Myristate, Isotridecyl Myristate, Lauryl Myristate, Oleyl Myristate
- Opacifying agentSubstances that reduce the clear or transparent appearance of cosmetic products. Some opacifying agents are used in skin make-up for hiding blemishes. – Myristic Acid, Tetradecyloctyldecyl Myristate
- Slip modifierIngredients that help other substances to flow more easily and more smoothly, without reacting chemically. – Magnesium Myristate, Zinc Myristate
- Skin-Conditioning Agent – Emollient – Butyl Myristate, Ethylhexyl Myristate, Ethyl Myristate, Glyceryl Dimyristate, Glyceryl Isostearate/Myristate, Glyceryl Myristate, Isobutyl Myristate, Isodecyl Myristate, Isopropyl Myristate, Isostearyl Myristate, Methyl Myristate, Propylene Glycol Myristate
- Skin-conditioning agent – occlusive – Cetyl Myristate, Decyl Myristate, Isocetyl Myristate, Isotridecyl Myristate, Lauryl Myristate, Myristyl Myristate, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Oleyl Myristate, Tetradecyloctyldecyl Myristate, Tridecyl Myristate
- SurfactantAn ingredient that helps two substances that normally do not mix to become dissolved or dispersed in one another. Also called a surface active agent. – cleansing agent – Myristic Acid, Potassium Myristate, Sodium Myristate
- Surfactant – emulsifying agent – Potassium Myristate, Sodium Myristate, Glyceryl Isostearate/Myristate, Glyceryl Myristate, Propylene Glycol Myristate
- Viscosity increasing agent – nonaqueous – Aluminum Dimyristate, Aluminum Isostearates/Myristates, Aluminum Myristate, Aluminum Myristates/Palmitates, Calcium Myristate, Magnesium Myristate, Zinc Myristate
Scientific Facts
Myristic Acid, also called tetradecanoic acid, occurs naturally in vegetable or animal fats and oils with relatively high levels found in nutmeg, palm oil, coconut oil and butterAny of various fatty oils remaining nearly solid at room temperature. fat. The salts of Myristic acid are formed by reaction with base materials such as sodium or potassium hydroxide. The esters of Myristic Acid are derived from Myristic Acid and an alcoholAlcohols are a large class of important cosmetic ingredients but only ethanol needs to be denatured to prevent it from being redirected from cosmetic applications to alcoholic beverages.. For example, Isopropyl Myristate is derived from Myristic Acid and isopropyl alcohol, and Butyl Myristate is derived from Myristic Acid and butyl alcohol.
Safety Information
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permits fatty acids, including Myristic Acid to be directly added to food. The safety of Myristic Acid and its salts and esters (Aluminum Dimyristate, Aluminum Isostearates/Myristate, Aluminum Myristate, Aluminum Myristates/Palmitates, Calcium Myristate, Magnesium Myristate, Potassium Myristate, Sodium Myristate, Zinc Myristate, Butyl Myristate, Cetyl Myristate, Decyl Myristate, Ethylhexyl Myristate, Ethyl Myristate, Glyceryl Dimyristate, Glyceryl Isostearate/Myristate, Glyceryl Myristate, Isobutyl Myristate, Isocetyl Myristate, Isodecyl Myristate, Isopropyl Myristate, Isostearyl Myristate, Isotridecyl Myristate, Lauryl Myristate, Methyl Myristate, Myristyl Myristate, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Oleyl Myristate, Propylene Glycol Myristate, Tetradecyloctadecyl Myristate, Tridecyl Myristate) has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient ReviewThe Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) was established in 1976 as an independent safety review program for cosmetic ingredients. The CIR Expert Panel consists of independent experts in dermatology, toxicology, pharmacolgy and veterinary medicine. The CIR includes participation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the Consumer Federation of America. (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel concluded that Myristic Acid and its salts and esters were safe as a cosmetic ingredient in the present practices of use and concentration.
CIR Safety Review: The CIR Expert Panel recognizes that the salts of Myristic Acid dissociate to form Myristic Acid and esters of Myristic Acid are hydrolyzed to their corresponding alcohols and Myristic Acid which are then further metabolized. Myristic Acid is a digestible constituent of most vegetable and animal fats and is nontoxic when ingested. Following oral exposure, Butyl Myristate and Ethyl Myristate were not toxic. Dermal exposure indicated that Myristic Acid and Butyl Myristate were not irritating. Myristic Acid, Isopropyl Myristate and Myristyl Myristate were minimally irritating to the eyes. Ethyl Myristate, Glyceryl Myristate and Isopropyl Myristate were not sensitizers. Isopropyl Myristate was negative in genotoxicity tests and was not carcinogenic.
Based on the structural similarities of these compounds, and the knowledge that in the body similar metabolites are formed, the CIR Expert Panel concluded that Myristic Acid, Aluminum Dimyristate, Aluminum Isostearates/Myristate, Aluminum Myristate, Aluminum Myristates/Palmitates, Calcium Myristate, Magnesium Myristate, Potassium Myristate, Sodium Myristate, Zinc Myristate, Butyl Myristate, Cetyl Myristate, Decyl Myristate, Ethylhexyl Myristate, Ethyl Myristate, Glyceryl Dimyristate, Glyceryl Isostearate/Myristate, Glyceryl Myristate, Isobutyl Myristate, Isocetyl Myristate, Isodecyl Myristate, Isopropyl Myristate, Isostearyl Myristate, Isotridecyl Myristate, Lauryl Myristate, Methyl Myristate, Myristyl Myristate, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Oleyl Myristate, Propylene Glycol Myristate, Tetradecyloctadecyl Myristate and Tridecyl Myristate were safe as a cosmetic ingredient in the present practices of use and concentration.
FDA Code of Federal Regulations for fatty acids Myristic Acid and its salts and esters may be used in cosmetics and personal care products in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Directive of the European Union. If these ingredients are derived from animal sources, they must comply with the European Union animal by-products regulations.
More Scientific Information
Myristic Acid is a saturated fatty acid with 14 carbon atoms. In cosmetics and personal care products, Myristic Acid functions as an opacifying agent and a surfactant – cleansing agent. Among the salts and esters of Myristic Acid that may be used in cosmetics and personal care products, Isopropyl Myristate is most likely to be used. Isopropyl Myristate, the esterAn organic compound formed by the reaction of an acid with an alcohol. of Myristic Acid and isopropyl alcohol, is also used in topical medications. In cosmetics and personal care products, Isopropyl Myristate functions as a binder, and skin-conditioning agent – emollient.