Product description

Glyceryl oleate is a glycerin and oleic acid ester – a natural fatty acid typically obtained from vegetable oils (e.g. olive oil or sunflower oil). Industrially, it is produced by esterification (reaction of glycerin with oleic acid or its derivatives), yielding a component that behaves as a mild emollient, co-emulsifier and often also as a re-fatting (lipid-replenishing) additive, especially in cleansing products.
In practice, it is used to make the product feel “softer” on the skin – it reduces the feeling of dryness after washing, improves slip and can help support the stability of emulsions or the texture of the finished product.

Key benefits

• Re-fatting effect – helps to compensate for skin degreasing after washing and reduces the feeling of tightness.
• Emollient and softener – improves skin and hair smoothness and comfort.
• Skin barrier support – contributes to better protection against moisture loss (indirectly via the lipid film).
• Co-emulsifier – can help stabilize emulsions and improve the sensory profile (slip, spreadability).
• Improved conditioning properties – often used in shampoos and shower products for a gentler feel after rinsing.

Suitable for products such as

• shower gels, cleansing creams and syndet products,
• shampoos and conditioners (especially to improve hair softness after washing),
• facial cleansing gels and emulsions,
• body and facial emulsions (as an emollient/co-emulsifier depending on the system),
• products for dry and sensitive skin focused on gentle cleansing.

Use in formulation

• typically soluble in the oil phase and miscible with most esters, triglycerides and lipids,
• in emulsions it is compatible with common emulsifiers; the final effect depends on the specific emulsifying system,
• in cleansing products it can be compatible with anionic and non-ionic surfactants, with the aim of improving the feel after rinsing,
• recommended dosage: information is not available from the attached documents (in practice the dosage is usually set according to the system type and the desired “re-fatting” effect).

It is recommended to add it during the cooling phase (at a temperature below 40 °C).

Safety and storage

• This is a commonly used cosmetic ingredient with a good tolerance profile.
• In finished products, in very reactive skin it may exceptionally contribute to a feeling of “heavier” occlusion, so the dosage is optimized according to the target group.
• Store in a dry place, away from direct sunlight and in a well-closed container to minimize oxidation of the lipid component.

Also check other emollients offered by Handymade.sk.

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