Hemisqualane (C13-15 Alkanes)

Description

Hemisqualane, commonly associated with the INCI name C13-15 Alkane, is a lightweight emollient used in skin care, hair care and personal care formulations. It helps improve product spreadability, provides a silky after-feel and reduces the heavy or greasy sensation often associated with richer oils and butters.

Commercial hemisqualane is frequently produced from sugarcane-derived feedstocks through fermentation and subsequent chemical processing.Hemisqualane is valued for its light, dry-touch sensory profile. It spreads easily across the skin and hair, making it suitable for formulations designed to feel smooth, lightweight and comfortable without leaving a heavy oily residue.

Key Benefits

1. Lightweight Emollience: Helps soften and smooth the skin while providing a light, non-heavy after-feel.

2. Fast-Spreading Texture: Improves the spreadability of creams, lotions, serums and oil-based products, allowing them to glide smoothly over the skin.

3. Non-Greasy Finish: Helps reduce the oily sensation of richer emollients, making it useful in lightweight skin care formulations.

4. Hair Smoothness: Helps improve the slip and sensory feel of hair products, leaving the hair feeling smoother and easier to manage.

5. Enhanced Product Aesthetics: Can improve the sensory profile of lotions, creams, facial oils and hair serums by contributing to a silky, elegant finish.

6. Formulation Flexibility: Can be incorporated into a variety of anhydrous and emulsified products, depending on the compatibility of the complete formulation.

Applications

Hemisqualane is commonly used in:

• Face creams and lightweight lotions

• Facial oils and skin serums

• Body lotions and body oils

• Hair serums and smoothing products

• Leave-in hair conditioners

• Makeup and cosmetic formulations

• Cleansing oils and selected oil-based products

Recommended Usage

The appropriate concentration depends on the product type, desired sensory profile and supplier recommendations.

A preliminary formulation screening range is approximately 1–10% for skin care and hair care products. It may be used at higher concentrations in certain oil-based formulations, subject to the intended application and grade specifications.

Lower concentrations can improve spreadability and reduce greasiness, while higher concentrations can contribute more substantially to the product's overall emollient character.

Solubility and Incorporation

Hemisqualane is oil-soluble and practically insoluble in water. It is generally incorporated into the oil phase of emulsions or blended directly with compatible oil-soluble ingredients in anhydrous formulations.

In creams and lotions, it can be combined with suitable oils, esters, emulsifiers and other oil-phase ingredients. In hair serums and facial oils, it can be blended with compatible emollients to achieve the desired slip, viscosity and finish.

Because it is not water-soluble, it requires an appropriate emulsification system when used in water-based products.

Formulation Considerations

• Skin feel: Particularly useful when a lightweight, silky and non-greasy finish is desired.

• Compatibility: Generally suitable for blending with compatible oils, esters and other lipophilic ingredients.

• Viscosity: Typically contributes a fluid, lightweight character rather than the richness of a butter or heavy oil.

• Oxidative stability: Hydrocarbon emollients are generally resistant to oxidation, but the stability of the complete formulation must still be evaluated.

• Hair care: Assess the dosage carefully to avoid an overly coated feel, particularly in fine hair products.

• Natural origin: Verify the raw material's feedstock, manufacturing process and certification before making natural-origin or sustainability claims.

Storage

Store in a tightly closed original container in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and excessive heat. Follow the supplier's recommended storage conditions and shelf life.

Conclusion

Hemisqualane (C13-15 Alkane) is a versatile lightweight emollient that helps improve spreadability, skin softness and hair smoothness while contributing a silky, non-greasy finish. It is a useful ingredient for developing modern skin care and hair care products that require elegant application, lightweight conditioning and improved sensory performance.