OCTYLDODECYL MYRISTATE - Skin Care Ingredients Curated By Mia Seilern

By KimReviewed Nataly

⚠️ Data is provided for informational purposes only. It may contain inaccuracies and should be independently verified. This is not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before making health decisions.

Description: OCTYLDODECYL MYRISTATE — emollient, texture enhancer.

All Functions: emollient, texture enhancer

Quick Facts:

Category: emollient
Comedogenic Rating: 3/5

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

Octyldodecyl myristate is an oil used in hair conditioning and skincare formulations
Research shows it can help restore the hydrophobic (water-repelling) properties of damaged hair
It performs similarly to silicone-based conditioners in restoring hair smoothness and gloss after bleaching
It’s used as a base oil in nanoemulsion formulations for skincare delivery
A study found it safe for non-target organisms when used in skincare products

Safety: ModerateResearch confidence: Fair

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.

🧪 OCTYLDODECYL MYRISTATE

OCTYLDODECYL MYRISTATE

CAS Number: 22766-83-2

Also Known As: —

Category: emollient

EC Number: 245-205-8

Korean Name: 옥틸도데실미리스테이트

2-Octyldodecyl myristate

OCTYLDODECYL MYRISTATE is an emollient ingredient used in skincare formulations.

emollienttexture enhancer

🌍 Regulatory Status

EU: No restriction on fileUS: No restriction on file

📊 Comedogenicity

🟥🟥🟥⬜⬜

3/5

📚 Research & Evidence

PUBMED CITATIONS

Data sources: EU CosIng PubMed

🔬 The Science

Octyldodecyl myristate is an emollient oil—essentially a lubricant—that has been studied for its ability to repair and protect hair and skin. Here’s what the research actually shows:

#1: Hair conditioning and repair. When hair is bleached or chemically damaged, the outer lipid layer (a naturally hydrophobic, or water-repelling, protective coating) gets stripped away. This makes hair feel rough and look dull. According to research published in ACS Omega (2022), conditioning formulations containing octyldodecyl myristate were able to partially or fully restore this natural hydrophobic layer. Notably, silicone-free formulations based on octyldodecyl myristate performed similarly to established silicone-containing products at reducing the rough, “strawy” feel of bleached hair and restoring softness and gloss.

The study used multiple measurement techniques—including atomic force microscopy and biomimetic friction testing—to demonstrate these effects quantitatively. #2: Water solubility and delivery. Octyldodecyl myristate serves as an oil phase in nanoemulsion formulations (tiny oil droplets suspended in water). A J Nanobiotechnology study (2014) used it as a 5% component in a nanoemulsion system, demonstrating that it can help incorporate and deliver active ingredients that don’t dissolve well in water alone. #3: Safety profile. The same nanoemulsion study (2014) reported no negative effects on acetylcholinesterase activity or mortality in mice, suggesting the ingredient is safe for non-target organisms at the concentrations tested.

The research is limited: these studies focus on specific hair damage scenarios and nanoemulsion applications, not comprehensive skincare benefits. The sources don’t provide information about other potential uses or effects beyond hair conditioning and emulsion stability.

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

94%

Sensitive

80%

Oily

94%

Dry

86%

Combination

80%

Acne-prone

92%

Normal

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.