The Beauty & Personal Care Brand Builder Series

Ingredient Deep Dive

Linoleic Acid

The Beauty & Personal Care Brand Builder Series

Ingredient Deep Dive

Linoleic Acid

The Essential Barrier Fatty Acid

Linoleic Acid is an essential omega-6 fatty acid (part of “vitamin F”) that is a key building block of the skin’s barrier lipids.

It helps reinforce the look and feel of a healthy moisture barrier, softens skin, and is valued in formulas for dry, blemish-prone and barrier-compromised-looking skin.

Quick Insights

Ingredient Rating:

GOOD

Type of Ingredient:

Barrier Support and Emollient

Intended Function:

An essential omega-6 fatty acid that supports the look of a healthy skin barrier and softens skin.

Common Applications:

Used across moisturizers, serums and lotions and treatment formulas.

Target Audience:

Brands formulating for dry, barrier-compromised or blemish-prone-looking skin.

Also Known As:

Linoleic Acid, Vitamin F

Benefits of Linoleic Acid

An essential fatty acid that supports the look of a healthy barrier and softens skin.

Barrier Support: A building block of ceramides and barrier lipids — supports the look of a healthy barrier.
Emollient: Softens and smooths dry-looking skin.
Balancing: Valued for the look of clearer, less-congested skin.
Essential Fatty Acid: One the skin cannot make itself.
Naturally Derived: From plant oils such as safflower and sunflower.

How It Works

Linoleic Acid is incorporated into the skin’s own barrier lipids (including ceramides); topically it helps replenish these essential fatty acids, supporting the appearance of a smooth, resilient, well-moisturized barrier and softening dry skin.

Formulating with Linoleic Acid

Linoleic Acid is used in the oil phase at low levels as a barrier-supporting emollient; as an unsaturated fatty acid it benefits from antioxidant protection (e.g. tocopherol). Observe good manufacturing and preservation practice.

Safety Analysis

Linoleic Acid is well tolerated as a skin-identical fatty acid. Protect from oxidation in-formula. As always, substantiate the finished product’s safety (e.g. patch / HRIPT testing) in line with MoCRA requirements.

References

https://incidecoder.com/ingredients/linoleic-acid

https://cosmeticanalysis.com/cosmetic-ingredients/linoleic-acid

https://cosmeticsinfo.org/ingredient/linoleic-acid/

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