Ingredient glossary / Emollient
Linoleic acid
On the label: Linoleic Acid · Emollient
What it is
An essential omega-6 fatty acid, the one skin with acne tends to be short of in sebum studies; the main fatty acid of sunflower, safflower and grapeseed oils.
Emollients: Emollients fill the gaps between skin cells and leave the surface smooth and soft; oils, butters and esters.
Wikidata: Chemical compound and essential nutrient. Q407426 →
In the research
937 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- Metabolic sensor Gpr35 links dietary lipids to itch mediating neural circuits · Communications biology, 2026
- Evidence Suggests Linoleic Acid Exerts Health Benefits Beyond Cardiovascular Disease: A Brief Review of Clinical and Observational Studies · Current nutrition reports, 2026
- Diversity of fatty acid susceptibility among clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and its role in membrane potential · iScience, 2026
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on cells or mice says little about a cream on a face.
Other emollients
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