Isopropyl Myristate

Isopropyl Myristate is an ester of isopropyl alcohol (aka rubbing alcohol) and myristic acid (a fatty acid that naturally occurs in coconut and palm oils). It is a very lightweight emollient and can be used like a carrier oil in many applications.

Isopropyl Myristate

Thin clear liquid

1–20%

Smooth, thin, liquid

Low to none

Fast

Below 25°C

6.5–7.5 (5% solution in water)

Oil

Medium

Isopropyl Myristate is included in formulas to dramatically reduce the greasy/oily feel; it’s brilliant in recipes with large amounts of butters that are famous for a heavier skin feel (like shea).

Isopropyl Myristate is also a great lightweight emollient; you can include it in recipes as an alternative to a liquid carrier oil to make for a lighter, faster-absorbing product.

At higher concentrations it can also be used in products like makeup removers.

No, but if you don’t like heavy/greasy products Isopropyl Myristate is an excellent thing to have around.

Isopropyl Myristate only exists as a refined product.

Isopropyl Myristate is so good at reducing the greasy feel of other ingredients that it is possible to make products that are primarily shea butter that don’t feel greasy.

Isopropyl Myristate is not typically considered “natural”.

One could use a very absorbing carrier oil instead (something like camellia seed oil), but even the lightest carrier oils won’t dramatically reduce the greasy feeling of a heavier formula, meaning the end product will be much heavier/slower absorbing than originally intended.

You can experiment with other lightweight esters, like C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate or Coco-Caprylate. They have different skin feels than isopropyl myristate (IPM), but they are nice and light!

You could try something like isododecane or cyclomethicone, but ingredients like that are very volatile, meaning they cannot be heated much and will evaporate out of the finished product over time if given the opportunity.

Include it in the oil phase of your products; it can be hot or cold processed.

Stored somewhere cool, dark, and dry, Isopropyl Myristate should last at least two years.

Isopropyl myristate can be used to remove prosthetic make-up.

100–200mL (3.3–6.6fl oz)

 Buy it from an online DIY ingredient supplier or Amazon.