Tribehenin is composed of glycerin and behenic acid, a naturally-occurring long-chain fatty acid. Tribehenin is found in animal and vegetable fats and oils such as tallow, palm-nut and coconut oils. It is used as a conditioning agent in a wide variety of skin care products, including makeup formulas, creams and lotions, sunscreen products, and skin care and skin cleansing products. Tribehenin is considered a low hazard ingredient by the Cosmetics Database, which notes that it can be a penetration enhancer and assist other chemicals in reaching lower levels of the skin.

Glyceryl 1-oleate (1-O-Oleyl-rac-glycerol, Glyceryl oleate, Monoolein), is a surfactant that releases free glycerol and oleic acid upon hydrolysis. Monoolein has been used in liquid crystal studies and research shows that in the presence of monoolein, the penetration of the drug cisplatin (sc-200896) is doubled. Monoolein (1-Oleoyl-rac-glycerol) is used in the development of monoolein-based nanoparticulate liquid dispersions as possible vehicles for drug delivery. Glyceryl oleate is the monoester of glycerin and oleic acid. It's part of the hair lipids and skin lipids and has re-fating properties. Used as emulsifier and nonionic co-surfactant in various skin and hair care products. Creates water-in-oil emulsions (HLB value 3.5) but can also be used as a co-emulsifier and thickener for oil-in-water formulations. Add to oil/emulsifier phase of formulas. Typical use level: 0.5-3%. If used in surfactant systems, typical use level is 0.5-1% which should still keep shampoos clear and transparent.

Octyldodecanol is a long chain fatty alcohol. It is a medium spreading emollient which is due to its chemical structure hydrolysis stable and therefore beneficially suitable for all formulations where a wide pH range is needed e.g. deo/antiperspirant and hair remover formulations. It is an emulsifier and opacifying agent, used primarily as a thickener in moisturizers because of its lubricating and emollient properties in the formulation of skin care products. Octyldodecanol is approved by ECOCERT for Natural and Organic Cosmetics.

Sorbitan Trioleate (Tween 85) is a triester of oleic acid and hexitol anhydrides derived from sorbitol. It functions as a surfactant and emulsifying agent. This product is a white to tan-colored solid. In cosmetics and personal care products, Sorbitan Esters are used in a variety of products including skin care products, skin cleansing products, moisturizers, eye makeup and other makeup.

1,4-Sorbitan is a sorbitol anhydration product. 1,4-Sorbitan is a precursor to environmentally benign surfactants. It is a component of Sorbitol-Sorbitan mixtures used as soft gel plasticizers. They enhance the soft gelatin capsule finish gloss for a premium appearance, help to prevent leakage, provide consistent pharmaceutical quality, and extend shelf life by maintaining a proper moisture balance within the capsule shell.

Sorbitan monopalmitate (Span 40) is a nonionic emulsifier, surfactant and food additive. The product of Croda Inc. Span 40 is used in skin care, hair care and decorative cosmetics. It is also used as an effector in compositions capable of facilitating penetration across a biological barrier. Inactive ingredient of some medications it improves transdermal delivery of drugs and is a potential carrier for topical drug delivery. In PLIAGLIS cream (lidocaine and tetracaine) sorbitan monopalmitate is used as an inactive ingredient. Sorbitan monopalmitate is a fatty acid sorbitan ester, yellowish brown wax, slightly soluble in isopropanol, xylene and liquid paraffin, insoluble in water, non-toxic.

GLYCERYL RICINOLEATE is a monoester of glycerin and ricinoleic acid. In cosmetic formulations Glyceryl ricinoleate can have the following functions: emulsifier/co-emulsifier, refatting agent, dispersing aid. But the primary function of Glyceryl ricinoleate is a skin protection agent. Glyceryl ricinoleate is used in nearly all skin care preparations such as creams, lotions, bath oils, shaving formulations, refatting soap and shower agents in amounts of 2 – 10%. In an epicutaneous test and after long use in cosmetic preparations, no irritations were observed.

Sorbitan monostearate (Span 60) is a non-ionic surfactant with emulsifying, dispersing, and wetting properties used as a food additive, additive in mixtures for drug use and in skin care products. It is approved for use by FDA in quantities not exceeding the amount reasonably required to accomplish the intended effect. 0.5-5% of Liposorb® S (sorbitan monostearate) is used for oil-in-water emulsions in combination with a high hydrophilic-lipophilic balance emulsifier to produce smooth lotions and creams in skin and hair care, make-up bases, and mild cleaning products. Sorbitan monostearate based organogels and vesicles (niosomes) formulated to enhance the oral bioavailability were characterized for use as a drug delivery vehicle. In combination with other non-ionic surfactants sorbitan monostearate is patented for use in vaccine formulations as a saponin-containing adjuvant for oil-in-water injectable emulsions. It is fatty acid ester of sorbitan (a sorbitol derivative) and stearic acid sometimes called synthetic wax. Has low hydrophilic-lipophilic balance. Non-toxic.