Isododecane is a synthetic aliphatic hydrocarbon with a branched structure. It is a safe, non-irritating, and non-comedogenic cosmetic-grade solvent and emollient with low viscosity, good volatility, spreadability, and drying time.
Aliphatic Branched Chain Hydrocarbons
Petroleum, a complex mixture of hydrocarbons, has long been used in cosmetics either as a starting material to synthesize other compounds or as a material processed to give specific fractions to be used as is. Those materials include such long-time favorites as mineral oil and petrolatum.
Aliphatic branched chain hydrocarbons are petroleum-based compounds that offer some very interesting formulation opportunities, such as aliphatic-branched chain hydrocarbons or isoparaffins. These ingredients offer the benefits of being highly branched chained structures of high purity, non-reactive, inert molecules with excellent solvent and emollient properties.
A significant advantage of the aliphatic-branched chain hydrocarbons is their purity, which is determined by the high percentage of the material comprising one central chain-length molecule.
While other materials using the Isoparaffin nomenclature are available for cosmetic use, their composition is governed by a chain length distribution rather than single fractions. This distribution of chain lengths can contribute to potentially increased skin irritation, discoloration, and odor problems that can negatively affect a finished product.Isoeicosane is a clear, color- and odorless liquid hydrocarbon with low viscosity and good spreadability. It is used as a conditioner in hair care and as a lipophilic, low-viscosity carrier in skin and sun care.
Isohexadecane is a clear, colorless, and odorless liquid with a slight volatility. It is used in skin and sun care products to leave a silky, light-emollient feeling on the skin. It is dermatologically safe, non-comedogenic, and non-greasy.
Isooctane is a colorless liquid with low odor intensity. It is volatile and evaporates rapidly.
Polyisobutene is a general name for a wide range of aliphatic branched-chain polymeric hydrocarbons C56 – C856. It is a clear, colorless, odorless, viscous liquid with a good safety profile.