C
C13-16 Isoparaffin
C13-16 IsoparaffinBarrier
A light oil made from petroleum that softens skin.
What it does
It’s a mix of branched hydrocarbons 13 to 16 carbons long, made from petroleum. It’s a light oil that softens skin and helps a product spread.
The evidence, graded
expert consensusUS safety reviewers (2012) assessed 24 isoparaffins, branched oils that products use mostly to thin a formula and also to soften skin. After reading animal and human data, they judged all 24 safe as used in cosmetics. Isododecane, isohexadecane and C13–16 isoparaffin are named in it, and C13–14 isoalkane under its older label name, C13–14 isoparaffin.Johnson 2012 · International Journal of Toxicology ↗
Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
Browse all 1238 ingredients — grouped by what they do, each with whatever evidence we can cite.
This page is public so a shared ingredient card always has its sources behind it — and so you can check them without an account.
Want more like this?
Every evidence-based flag cites its source, Drop tells you when your routine is complete, and it helps you simplify — instead of selling you more. The app launches on iOS and Android in October 2026. Rate my routine works today at /rate — no sign-in.