OCTYLDODECANOL

📋 Quick facts

Description: OCTYLDODECANOL — emollient, texture enhancer.

All Functions: emollient, texture enhancer

Quick Facts:

• Category: emollient
• Comedogenic Rating: 2/5

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Octyldodecanol is a penetration enhancer used in transdermal (through-skin) patch formulations
• It increases how effectively active ingredients can pass through skin when incorporated into patches
• In patch testing, it caused only mild skin irritation in animal models
• Irritation from patches containing octyldodecanol was greater than control patches but still considered minor

⚗️ Chemical Overview

structure in first source

Source(s): Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), via PubChem

📊 Comedogenicity

2/5

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

Derived from this ingredient’s irritancy potential and comedogenicity rating against the needs of each skin type — e.g. oily and acne-prone skin are marked down for pore-clogging ingredients, sensitive skin for irritants. A starting heuristic, not a dermatological verdict.

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Octyldodecanol (OD) is an ingredient that helps active pharmaceutical ingredients penetrate the skin barrier more effectively—a property called “penetration enhancement.” In a 2006 study published in *Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin*, researchers tested octyldodecanol in transdermal patches designed to deliver the drug formoterol fumarate. #1: When octyldodecanol was added to ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer patches, it significantly increased the amount of active ingredient that could pass through skin, compared to patches made without it (*Biol Pharm Bull*, 2006). This makes it useful in patch formulations where getting medication through the skin barrier is important. #2: The same study evaluated skin irritation potential across different patch formulations containing various amounts of octyldodecanol.

Patches containing octyldodecanol caused mild irritation in animal models tested (*Biol Pharm Bull*, 2006). However, it’s important to note that irritation levels were “significantly greater than the control” patch, meaning octyldodecanol itself did contribute to irritation compared to formulations without it—though the absolute irritation scores remained in the mild range. The sources available are limited to one animal study of octyldodecanol in pharmaceutical patches and do not include data on its use in typical consumer skincare products or on human skin irritation in real-world conditions.

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Kakubari I et al. (2006). Effects of ethylcellulose and 2-octyldodecanol additives on skin permeation and irritation with ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer matrix patches containing formoterol fumarate. Biol Pharm Bull.
• Dharmagunawardena B et al. (1997). Contact dermatitis due to octyldodecanol in clotrimazole cream. Contact Dermatitis.
• Badaoui A (2025). Allergic Contact Dermatitis to Octyldodecanol in a Men’s Anti-Aging Cream: A Case Report. Contact Dermatitis.

🧴 Products Containing OCTYLDODECANOL

• Nivea stress protect
• BRYNILD GRUPPEN AS Nivea Sensitive Day Care 50ml
• Nivea Nivea Men Fresh Active
• Brynild AS Labello Peach Shine 1 stk
• Beierdorf labello med repair
• Nivea Nivea lait démaquillant
• labello All-Wetter set
• Nivea Nivea Creme
• Nivea 24hr moisture
• Buchter’s Son, Murnauer Markenvertrieb GmbH Butcher’s Son Hydro Cream
• Balea, dm Deodorant sensitive
• dm sun dance 30 transparentes sonnenspray
• Lacura Fußbalsam – Oliven- & Rosmarinöl
• Nivea Protect & Care
• Nivea NIVEA Double Effect Antitranspirant Roller
• BRYNILD GRUPPEN AS Nivea Roll-On Magnesium 50ml
• extra firming night facial mask
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• Soraya Ideal Effect 40+ Krem wygładzająco-ujędrniający
• BIO, Monsavon Monsavon BIO Déodorant Femme Bille Lait d’Amande 50ml
• CONAXESS TRADE NORGE AS Blonde Blondering Ultra Lightener L1+
• Renova Bálsamo Humectante
• Atrix Intensive
• Unilever, Rexona Aclarado perfecto
• Monsavon Monsavon Déodorant Femme Spray Compressé Fleur de Lotus Presque Divine 100ml
• Monsavon Monsavon Déodorant Femme Spray Compressé Grenade Tellement Fraîche 100ml
• Mate 150 Vontades
• Somatoline Latte Detergente Viso e Occhi
• Léa Nature Sérum hydratant apaisant
• Lea Nature Precieux argan anti-wrinkle care
• Provence Santé crème légère anti âge
• nyx
• Dermasence Polaneth Lotion
• Bio naïa Crème visage à l’aloe vera et au beurre de karite
• Inell Lait démaquillant
• Marque Repère Crème hydratante visage et corps
• Labcare, Labcare cosmetics Crema viso anti-age
• MAC – Make-up art cosmetics 612 Russian Red rouge à lèvres mat
• Galderma Cetaphil Baby Shea Butter Daily Lotion
• Eucerin Eucerin Lip Activ Soin Actif Levres Stick 4.8G (lip Care)