About this material
18-MEA lipid replacement (UNVERIFIED: Methyl Eicosanoate (18-MEA)) is branched fatty acid ester supplied by MakeYourSkin as waxy solid or dispersion for professional cosmetic formulation. Sourced in the Japan tradition. It is valued for cuticle lipid replacement, hydrophobicity, slip.
What is 18-MEA lipid replacement?
18-MEA lipid replacement is supplied under the INCI / technical name UNVERIFIED: Methyl Eicosanoate (18-MEA).
It belongs to the Branched fatty acid ester group. The material reaches you as waxy solid or dispersion. Replaces the 18-MEA layer stripped by bleaching; confirm the exact INCI of the specific commercial grade
Key Properties & Benefits
- Cuticle lipid replacement
- Hydrophobicity
- Slip
- Supplied with full documentation — CoA, SDS and specification
Uses & Applications
Typically formulated into masks, leave-ins, post-bleach treatments.
How to Use — Recommended Use Level
Typical use level: 0.1-2%. Add at the pre-dispersion. Supplied as a dispersion or dispersible solid. It will not dissolve: suspend it and keep the system stable.
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: Methyl Eicosanoate (18-MEA)
- Ingredient family: Branched fatty acid ester
- Origin / tradition: Japan
- Typical form: Waxy solid or dispersion
- Solubility: Dispersion Only
- Typical use level: 0.1-2%
- pH range: any
- Addition phase: Pre-dispersion
- Pack sizes: 50 g; 225 g; 1 Kg; 5 Kg; bulk on request
Technical Notes
Replaces the 18-MEA layer stripped by bleaching; confirm the exact INCI of the specific commercial grade
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 | Methyl Eicosanoate (18-MEA) |
|---|---|
| CAS NUMBER | Not assigned |
| FAMILY | Branched fatty acid ester |
| ORIGIN | Japan |
| SUPPLY FORM | Waxy solid or dispersion |
| SOLUBILITY | Supplied as a dispersion or dispersible solid. It will not dissolve: suspend it and keep the system stable. |
| TYPICAL USE LEVEL | 0.1-2% |
| pH RANGE | any |
| ADD AT | Pre-dispersion |
| FUNCTIONS | Cuticle lipid replacement, hydrophobicity, slip |
| USED IN | Masks, leave-ins, post-bleach treatments |
| 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.