Snapshot
- Overview
- A lightweight ester that softens skin and cuts sticky feel.
- Category
- Skin Conditioning
- Type
- Emollient
C12-15 Alkyl Lactate
C12-15 Alkyl Lactate is an ester of lactic acid and medium-chain fatty alcohols used in personal care. It's chosen to provide light emolliency, smoother glide, and lower tack in lotions, deodorants, and leave-on skincare.
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Our take
Is C12-15 Alkyl Lactate a Good Ingredient?
It offers light emolliency and quick-absorbing glide that reduces tack, which supports a Good rating, though the case for it rests mainly on formulation performance rather than clinical data.
What it does
Skin Benefits
Delivers quick-absorbing softness and helps cut tack for a comfortable afterfeel, and leaves skin feeling silky while helping products spread evenly.
Where you'll find it
Uses in Skincare & Cosmetics
Common in facial lotions, gel-creams, and serums to improve glide, and also found in makeup bases and body creams to improve sensory aesthetics.
Before you use it
Safety
Generally low irritation and the lactate ester is not exfoliating. Very sensitive skin may notice mild stinging; discontinue if irritation occurs. No notable regulatory limits known.
Products with C12-15 Alkyl Lactate
