About this material
18-MEA (plant-derived) (UNVERIFIED: 18-Methyleicosanoic Acid) is branched fatty acid, cuticle lipid supplied by MakeYourSkin as waxy paste or dispersion for professional cosmetic formulation. Sourced in the Japan tradition. It is valued for cuticle restoration, slip, anti-frizz.
What is 18-MEA (plant-derived)?
18-MEA (plant-derived) is supplied under the INCI / technical name UNVERIFIED: 18-Methyleicosanoic Acid.
It belongs to the Branched fatty acid, cuticle lipid group. The material reaches you as waxy paste or dispersion. Replaces the native 18-MEA lipid layer stripped from the cuticle by bleaching and relaxing; confirm the exact labelling INCI of the plant-derived grade with the supplier.
Key Properties & Benefits
- Cuticle restoration
- Slip
- Anti-frizz
- Supplied with full documentation — CoA, SDS and specification
Uses & Applications
Typically formulated into post-bleach and post-relaxer care, conditioners.
How to Use — Recommended Use Level
Typical use level: 0.5-3%. Add at the oil phase. Oil-soluble. Add to the oil phase; will not disperse in water without a solubiliser or emulsifier.
Always trial the material in your own base at small scale before scaling up. Use levels are formulation starting points, not approvals.
Technical Specification
- INCI name: UNVERIFIED: 18-Methyleicosanoic Acid
- Ingredient family: Branched fatty acid, cuticle lipid
- Origin / tradition: Japan
- Typical form: Waxy paste or dispersion
- Solubility: Oil Soluble
- Typical use level: 0.5-3%
- pH range: any
- Addition phase: Oil phase
- Pack sizes: 50 g; 225 g; 1 Kg; 5 Kg; bulk on request
Technical Notes
Replaces the native 18-MEA lipid layer stripped from the cuticle by bleaching and relaxing; confirm the exact labelling INCI of the plant-derived grade with the supplier.
Regulatory Note
Sold as a cosmetic raw material for professional formulation. A published INCI name does not by itself authorise use: the buyer is responsible for confirming permitted status, maximum concentration, restrictions by product type, labelling and claim rules in every market the finished product is sold in. In India, cosmetics fall under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and the Cosmetics Rules 2020 administered by CDSCO, with BIS standards (including IS 4707 Part 2) listing restricted substances. The EU applies Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and its Annexes; the United States applies the FD&C Act as amended by MoCRA; Korea, Japan and China operate their own positive lists and functional-cosmetic frameworks. Every finished product needs its own safety assessment.
Documentation Supplied
Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the batch supplied; Safety Data Sheet (SDS / MSDS) in the current GHS format; INCI and technical specification sheet; allergen, GMO and origin statements on request; vegan, halal and kosher declarations where the supply chain supports them.
Available Pack Sizes
50 g; 225 g; 1 Kg; 5 Kg; bulk on request
Disclaimer & Caution in Use
For external cosmetic use in professionally formulated products only. This is a concentrated raw material, not a finished product: do not apply it undiluted to skin or hair. Wear suitable gloves and eye protection when handling, weigh in a ventilated area, and keep out of reach of children. Patch test every finished formulation. Not for ingestion unless a food or oral-care grade is specifically supplied and documented as such. Seek medical advice in case of eye contact, ingestion or an adverse reaction. Low-pH material. Confirm the finished-product pH and provide the sun-protection and irritation warnings your market requires.
Specification
| INCI NAME | 18-Methyleicosanoic Acid |
|---|---|
| CAS NUMBER | Not assigned |
| FAMILY | Branched fatty acid, cuticle lipid |
| ORIGIN | Japan |
| SUPPLY FORM | Waxy paste or dispersion |
| SOLUBILITY | Oil-soluble. Add to the oil phase; will not disperse in water without a solubiliser or emulsifier. |
| TYPICAL USE LEVEL | 0.5-3% |
| pH RANGE | any |
| ADD AT | Oil phase |
| FUNCTIONS | Cuticle restoration, slip, anti-frizz |
| USED IN | Post-bleach and post-relaxer care, conditioners |
| STORAGE | Store in a tightly closed container at 15–25 °C, away from direct sunlight. Protect from freezing and from prolonged heat. |
| PACK SIZES | 50 g; 225 g; 1 Kg; 5 Kg; bulk on request |
| LEAD TIME | 10–16 days |
| REGULATORY | Sold as a cosmetic raw material for professional formulation. A published INCI name does not by itself authorise use: the buyer is responsible for confirming permitted status, maximum concentration, restrictions by product type, labelling and claim rules in every market the finished product is sold in. In India, cosmetics fall under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and the Cosmetics Rules 2020 administered by CDSCO, with BIS standards (including IS 4707 Part 2) listing restricted substances. The EU applies Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and its Annexes; the United States applies the FD&C Act as amended by MoCRA; Korea, Japan and China operate their own positive lists and functional-cosmetic frameworks. Every finished product needs its own safety assessment. |
How to work with it
The specification's Add at row is the one to read first. Water-phase materials added to a hot oil phase are the most common reason a batch separates.
Measure the finished product, not the premix. Outside the range the activity drops away and, for some materials, the degradation route is what causes complaints.
Then work up through stability and compatibility testing. Higher is not better, and the destination market's limit may sit below your formulation ceiling.