Diisopropyl adipate is an ester of adipic acid and isopropanol, widely used in the cosmetic and personal care industry for its emollient, solvent, and skin conditioning properties. This versatile ingredient is beneficial in a variety of skincare, hair care, and makeup products, enhancing their performance and sensory attributes.

Chemical Composition and Structure
Diisopropyl Adipate is composed of adipic acid esterified with isopropanol. This structure provides excellent solubility and compatibility with a wide range of cosmetic ingredients. The specific composition includes:

Adipic Acid: A dicarboxylic acid that contributes to the ester’s emollient properties.
Isopropanol: An alcohol that enhances the solubility and application of the ester in formulations.
Physical Properties
Diisopropyl Adipate typically appears as a clear, colorless liquid with a mild odor. It is oil-soluble, making it easy to incorporate into various oil-based and emulsion formulations.

Cosmetic and Personal Care Applications
Emollient: Diisopropyl Adipate provides a smooth, silky feel to the skin, enhancing the moisturizing properties of cosmetic products without leaving a greasy residue.

Solvent: It acts as an effective solvent for many active ingredients, improving the stability and performance of formulations.

Skin Conditioning: This ingredient helps to condition the skin, enhancing its texture and overall appearance. It is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

Spreadability: Diisopropyl Adipate improves the spreadability of formulations, making them easier to apply and enhancing their sensory qualities.

Hair Care: In hair care products, it helps to improve the texture and manageability of hair, providing a smooth, conditioned feel.

Sun Care: It is often used in sunscreens to enhance the spreadability and absorption of UV filters, improving the efficacy of the product.

Environmental and Safety Considerations

Diisopropyl Adipate is generally considered safe for use in cosmetic and personal care products. It is non-irritating and suitable for all skin types. As a synthetic ester, it should be used and disposed of responsibly to minimize environmental impact. Utilizing Diisopropyl Adipate supports the creation of high-performance products with enhanced consumer appeal.

Cosmetics - INCI Functions


Skin conditioning agent - Emollient. Emollients have the characteristic of enhancing the skin barrier through a source of exogenous lipids that adhere to the skin, improving barrier properties by filling gaps in intercorneocyte clusters to improve hydration while protecting against inflammation. In practice, they have the ability to create a barrier that prevents transepidermal water loss. Emollients are described as degreasing or refreshing additives that improve the lipid content of the upper layers of the skin by preventing degreasing and drying of the skin. The problem with emollients is that many have a strong lipophilic character and are identified as occlusive ingredients; they are oily and fatty materials that remain on the skin surface and reduce transepidermal water loss. In cosmetics, emollients and moisturisers are often considered synonymous with humectants and occlusives.

Fragrance. It plays a very important role in the formulation of cosmetic products as it provides the possibility of enhancing, masking or adding fragrance to the final product, increasing its marketability. It is able to create a perceptible pleasant odour, masking a bad smell. The consumer always expects to find a pleasant or distinctive scent in a cosmetic product.

Plasticiser. Ingredient added to the formulation with the purpose of retaining fragrance and colour, increasing flexibility, flowability, deformability, durability of various ingredients allowing better processing. It softens and makes flexible synthetic polymers that otherwise could not be easily processed, stretched or deformed.

Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.

Solvent. It is the substance for dissolving or dispersing surfactants, oils, dyes, flavourings, bactericidal preservatives in solution.In fact, it dissolves other components present in a cosmetic formulation. Solvents are generally liquid (aqueous and non-aqueous).
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