PHOSPHOLIPIDS

📋 Quick facts

Description: PHOSPHOLIPIDS — barrier support, moisturizing.

All Functions: barrier support, moisturizing

Quick Facts:

• Category: emollient

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Phospholipids are natural molecules that make up cell membranes and stabilize fats in foods and cosmetics
• They work as emulsifiers—ingredients that help mix oil and water-based ingredients together
• Most phospholipids used in skincare come from natural sources like soybeans or egg yolk
• They can self-assemble into tiny structures that help deliver other ingredients into skin
• Natural phospholipids are preferred in formulations because they’re renewable, affordable, and well-regulated

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ 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

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Phospholipids are distinctive molecules with an unusual dual nature: one end attracts water while the other end attracts oils (this is called amphiphilic). Because of this property, they’re the main building blocks of cell membranes and naturally stabilize fats—like how they stabilize milk fat globules in dairy (Adv Colloid Interface Sci, 2021). #1: In skincare formulations, phospholipids function as emulsifiers, meaning they help blend together ingredients that normally don’t mix, like oils and water-based serums (Adv Colloid Interface Sci, 2016). #2: Phospholipids can self-assemble into organized structures at tiny scales—ranging from 50 nanometers to several microns—which makes them useful for delivering active ingredients deeper into skin through various routes including dermal application (J Control Release, 2022).

#3: They serve multiple roles simultaneously: as solubilizers (helping dissolve ingredients), emulsifiers, coating agents, and permeation enhancers that may help other ingredients penetrate skin (J Control Release, 2022). Most skincare products use natural phospholipids extracted from plants like soybeans or animal sources like egg yolk rather than synthetic versions (Eur J Lipid Sci Technol, 2014). These natural versions are preferred because they’re produced from renewable sources using ecologically friendlier processes, maintain consistent quality between batches, and cost less than synthetic alternatives (Eur J Lipid Sci Technol, 2014). The sources reviewed focus primarily on phospholipids’ pharmaceutical and formulation properties rather than direct skincare benefits to skin health, so claims about anti-aging, hydration, or barrier repair are not supported by these abstracts.

📄 Related Research

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

• van Hoogevest P et al. (2014). The use of natural and synthetic phospholipids as pharmaceutical excipients. Eur J Lipid Sci Technol.
• Perazzo A et al. (2021). Quantitative methods to detect phospholipids at the oil-water interface. Adv Colloid Interface Sci.
• He C et al. (2024). Novel reaction systems for catalytic synthesis of structured phospholipids. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol.
• McClements DJ et al. (2016). Natural emulsifiers – Biosurfactants, phospholipids, biopolymers, and colloidal particles: Molecular and physicochemical basis of functional performance. Adv Colloid Interface Sci.
• Waghule T et al. (2022). Tailoring the multi-functional properties of phospholipids for simple to complex self-assemblies. J Control Release.

📰 Recent News

• In vitro antioxidant and collagen restoration activities of a standardized Centella asiatica L. extract formulated with phospholipids (PubMed)

🧴 Products Containing PHOSPHOLIPIDS

• ООО «НАТУРА СИБЕРИКА» Шампунь для волос «BE-CURL.
• Roots of strength body shop
• fresh skin face
• Lidherma Cell active hidro cream
• Caudalie Soin corps nourrissant Thé des Vignes
• Centifolia Shampooing crème cheveux normaux
• aloedermal solar
• Yves Rocher Yves Rocher Reparation Shampooing Soin Nutri-Reparateur
• Kirkland Moisture Conditioner
• Trader Joe’s Nourish Oil-Free Antioxidant Facial Moisturizer
• Dermalogica Precleanse Balm
• Pacifica Vegan Cream Creamy Gel Cleanser
• Briogeo Briogeo
• Honest Beauty Calm On Foaming Cream Cleanser
• ouidad vitacurl gel
• Kate Somerville DeliKate Soothing Cleanser
• ACURE Seriously Soothing Cleansing Cream
• Phytoplex cream
• CORINE DE FARME SOIN YEUX LUMIÈRE
• Summer Fridays ShadeDrops Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Mineral Milk Sunscreen
• Rene Furterer Paris Karité Nutri
• Cattier Shampoing extra-doux Protéines de blé
• Cattier Shampooing démêlant parfum pomme Kids bio
• Naturé moi Shampooing aux 3 Huiles
• Douce Nature Shampooing crème nourrissant cheveux secs et abîmées au karité bio & jojoba bio
• Clarins Hydra Sculpt Soin Restructurant ClarinsMen
• Douce Nature, Ekibio Shampooing crème éclat couleur cheveux colorés grenade bio et framboise bio
• Clarins Body Fit
• Bayer Bepanthen Protect
• Cosmo naturel, Laboratoire Gravier Baume demelant Karité – verveine – citron
• Caudalie Shampooing soin douceur
• Caudalie Soin corps nourrissant anti-oxydant
• Philosophy Nature In A Jar Gentle Detoxifying Cleanser With Agave
• Yves Rocher Masque Cheveux Nutri-Reparateur
• Yves Rocher Shampooing Soin Nutri-Réparateur
• Exp’r 1234 Shampooing Répare Nourrit
• Avril Mascara Longue Tenue Noir
• The Inkey List Retinol Serum
• Facetheory Peptide Firming Night Cream
• octyl methoxycinnate