Beauty & Personal Care / Solution Family

Emollients & Slip Agents

Cosmetic emollient esters, fatty alcohols, a plant oil, and a silicone fluid for spreadability, slip, and after-feel u2014 caprylic/capric triglyceride, squalane, isopropyl myristate, cetyl and cetearyl alcohol, argan oil, and dimethicone.

Overview

Emollients are the oils, esters, fatty alcohols, and silicone fluids that makenup the lipid phase of a formulation; in INCI they are classed as skin-conditioningn(emollient) agents. Their function is physical, not active: they govern how anproduct spreads, its slip, and its after-feel. This family spans light estersn(caprylic/capric triglyceride, isopropyl myristate, squalane), fatty alcohols (cetyl,ncetearyl), a plant oil (argan), and a silicone fluid (dimethicone).

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Spreading speed is the property formulators tune, and it sets the central trade-off.nFast-spreading esters such as isopropyl myristate give a dry, light feel but littlencushion, while heavier fatty alcohols and triglycerides build body and a richer after-feelnat the cost of a weightier skin feel. Choose the ester end for serums and sprays, and thenfatty-alcohol end for creams that also need viscosity from the same ingredient.

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The fatty alcohols here do double duty: cetyl and cetearyl alcohol act as emollients andnas co-emulsifiers and viscosity builders, which is why they show mixed roles in catalogndata. Dimethicone is the silicone-fluid option for slip and a non-greasy after-feel.nSpecify cosmetic-grade material and confirm the grade against your formulation; argan oilnis a single-source plant oil, so factor lot-to-lot variability into specifications.

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Recommended Chemistries
24 materials
Argan Oil (Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil)
CAS 223747-87-3
Emollient plant oil Quick view
Beeswax
CAS 8012-89-3
Emolliency Quick view
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (MCT, Fractionated Coconut Oil)
CAS 65381-09-1
Lightweight emollient ester / carrier oil Quick view
Cetostearyl Alcohol (Cetearyl Alcohol, Emulsifying Wax)
CAS 67762-27-0
Waxy fatty-alcohol emollient and viscosity builder Quick view
Cetyl Alcohol (1-Hexadecanol)
CAS 36653-82-4
Fatty-alcohol emollient and co-emulsifier Quick view
Dimethicone (PDMS, Silicone oil, Dimethyl silicone)
CAS 9006-65-9
Silicone-fluid emollient (slip, after-feel) Quick view
Dimethicone (Polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Silicone-fluid emollient (slip, after-feel) Quick view
Golden Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil)
CAS 61789-91-1
Emolliency Quick view
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
CAS 68937-10-0
Emolliency Quick view
Isopropyl Myristate (IPM, Isopropyl tetradecanoate)
CAS 110-27-0
Fast-spreading emollient ester Quick view
Lanolin (Wool Wax)
CAS 8006-54-0
Emolliency Quick view
Silicone Oil 1,000 cSt (Dimethicone, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Silicone-fluid emollient (slip, after-feel) Quick view
Silicone Oil 10 cSt (Dimethicone, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Silicone-fluid emollient (slip, after-feel) Quick view
Silicone Oil 10,000 cSt (Dimethicone, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Silicone-fluid emollient (slip, after-feel) Quick view
Silicone Oil 100 cSt (Dimethicone, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Silicone-fluid emollient (slip, after-feel) Quick view
Silicone Oil 100,000 cSt (Dimethicone, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Silicone-fluid emollient (slip, after-feel) Quick view
Silicone Oil 12,500 cSt (Dimethicone, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Silicone-fluid emollient (slip, after-feel) Quick view
Silicone Oil 350 cSt (Dimethicone, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Silicone-fluid emollient (slip, after-feel) Quick view
Silicone Oil 5 cSt (Dimethicone, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Silicone-fluid emollient (slip, after-feel) Quick view
Silicone Oil 50 cSt (Dimethicone, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Silicone-fluid emollient (slip, after-feel) Quick view
Silicone Oil 500,000 cSt (Dimethicone, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Silicone-fluid emollient (slip, after-feel) Quick view
Silicone Oil 60,000 cSt (Dimethicone, PDMS)
CAS 9006-65-9
Silicone-fluid emollient (slip, after-feel) Quick view
Squalane
CAS 111-01-3
Lightweight emollient (hydrogenated squalene) Quick view
Stearyl Alcohol (1-Octadecanol)
CAS 112-92-5
Emolliency Quick view
Where it's used
  • Lipid phase and after-feel modification in creams, lotions, and balms
  • Light, dry-feel carrier oils for serums, sprays, and anhydrous systems
  • Co-emulsifier and viscosity building via fatty alcohols in O/W emulsions
  • Slip and non-greasy after-feel in leave-on skin and hair care (dimethicone)
  • Solvent and carrier for oil-soluble actives and fragrance
Frequently asked questions
What emollients does RawSource supply?
RawSource sources emollient esters (caprylic/capric triglyceride, isopropyl myristate, squalane), fatty alcohols (cetyl, cetearyl), the plant oil argan, and the silicone fluid dimethicone. All are INCI emollients tagged to Beauty & Personal Care in our catalog, available with SDS, TDS, and COA.
What is the difference between a light and a heavy emollient?
It comes down to spreading speed and after-feel. Light, fast-spreading esters such as isopropyl myristate leave a dry feel with little residue, while heavier triglycerides and fatty alcohols spread slowly and leave a richer, weightier feel. Formulators blend the two to set the sensory profile across serums, lotions, and creams.
Is dimethicone an emollient?
Dimethicone is a silicone fluid used for slip and a non-greasy after-feel, and our catalog lists emolliency among its functional roles. It performs the emollient (slip and feel) function rather than acting as a plant or ester oil. Related silicone editorial is being revised, so no blog link is shown here.
Does RawSource supply cosmetic emollients in bulk?
Yes. RawSource sources emollients at bulk scale in drums, totes, and bulk configurations, each shipment with SDS, TDS, and COA. Submit a CAS or INCI name with target volume and grade for a quote.
Disclaimer. Information on this page is provided for general reference and compiled from authoritative public sources (e.g. PubChem/ECHA). Values are typical and are not a guaranteed specification; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot you purchase governs. Products are sold for industrial and professional use only. Nothing here is a medical, health, or efficacy claim. Always consult the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before handling, and confirm regulatory status, classification, and suitability for your application and jurisdiction.
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