active
Isododecane
A synthetic isoparaffin solvent providing the characteristic lightweight, fast-evaporating texture in colour cosmetics including highlighting blushes and illuminating formulas. Enables high pigment-load without heaviness.
Benefits
- Ultra-lightweight dry-feel texture
- Fast-evaporating — reduces greasy skin feel
- High-load pigment carrier
- Long-wear performance contribution
- Water-repellent film formation
Example uses
- Highlighting blush formulas
- Liquid eyeshadows
- Long-wear lip formulas
- Illuminating primers
- Waterproof mascara
Mechanism of action
Isododecane's low surface tension and viscosity provide minimal drag during product application, enabling smooth, effortless blending of colour cosmetics. As an isoparaffin, it forms a hydrophobic film on the skin surface via van der Waals forces between the branched alkyl chains and stratum corneum surface lipids. Fast evaporation rate results in a dry, non-tacky skin feel post-application.
Clinical evidence · High
Well-characterised solvent. CIR assessed safety. No active dermatological mechanism.
Effective concentration range
q.s. (5–30% in colour cosmetics)
Formulation notes
Anhydrous or low-water systems only. Evaporates largely from the skin surface after application. Excellent solvent for volatile silicones, synthetic waxes, and colour pigments.
Watchouts
Derived from petroleum/natural gas processing. Non-biodegradable petroleum-derived isoparaffin — flagged in environmentally strict clean-beauty frameworks. Not a skin sensitiser but the sustainability profile is not clean.
Controversies & overclaims
Petroleum derivation and non-biodegradability are the primary concerns. Human safety profile is well-established.
Market positioning
Sold as a lightweight emollient and texture-enhancing cosmetic solvent. Accurate for function. The petroleum origin and non-biodegradability are underreported in product-facing communication.
Comedogenicity
1 / 5
Sensitisation risk
Low
INCI & aliases
Isododecane
2,2,4,8-tetramethylnonane · isoparaffin C12 · highly branched C12 isoparaffin
Clean beauty perception
Mixed in clean beauty. Excluded from most strict natural or petroleum-free brand standards. Accepted in clean-beauty standards that focus on safety over environmental origin.
Graph relationships
Timeline