Ingredient guide ›

Isopropyl Myristate

The light, silky oil.

What it does

A light oil that softens skin and helps lotions spread and sink in fast without feeling greasy.

Good to know

It helps other ingredients pass into skin. It's also used in some head lice treatments. The only safety review found is from the US industry panel (CIR).

Often found in: Deodorants, Body lotions, Conditioners, Hair dyes

Around the world

• United States: No FDA limit. The FDA doesn't approve cosmetic ingredients before sale. Source
• EU and UK: No special limit in the EU or UK. Source
• Canada: Not on Health Canada's Hotlist of restricted ingredients. Source
• Australia: No limit in Australia's Poisons Standard. Source

Sources

No independent safety review found. The only review is industry-funded.

• CIR: Safety Assessment of Alkyl Esters as Used in Cosmetics (2015) (Industry-funded)
• Effectiveness of isopropyl myristate/cyclomethicone D5 solution of removing cuticular hydrocarbons from human head lice (BMC Dermatol, 2012) (Industry-funded)