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Phosphatidylcholine
AKA “Lecithin, Phosphocholine”
Surfactant
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Ingredient Facts
Phosphatidylcholine
AKA: Lecithin, Phosphocholine
Surfactant · Emulsifying · EWG: 1
Synthetic
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Skin Conditioner
Barrier Lipid
Clean
Lecithins, egg yolk
CAS #
8002-43-5
Form
Powder
See origin →
Functions
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Emulsifying
Forces oil and water to stay mixed instead of separating into layers. The unsung hero holding your lotion together.
Locks in moisture
Traditional Use
A phospholipid component of cell membranes found naturally in eggs, soy, and other plant sources; used historically in traditional medicine for skin health. Modern cosmetics use it as a conditioning agent and delivery system for other skincare actives.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
Dryness
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
1
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USA✔ permitted
EU⚠ restricted
JAPAN⚠ restricted
CANADA⚠ restricted
Balance + Support Duo
Marie Veronique
 →
The New Tendency Complete Set
Nécessaire
 →
Black Tulip Eye Treatment
Bloom Effects
 →
Black Tulip Facial Treatment
Bloom Effects
 →
calm & clarify duo
Cocokind
 →
Smooth + Sculpt Set
Grown Alchemist
 →
travel-size Electrolyte Water Cream
Cocokind
 →
Detox & Clarify Collection
Goldfaden MD
 →
electrolyte water cream
Cocokind
 →
Everyday Radiance Essentials
Bloom Effects
 →
High Fidelity Balancing Color Corrector
Exa Beauty
 →
High Fidelity Brightening Concealer Stick
Exa Beauty
 →
High Fidelity Foundation
Exa Beauty
 →
Facial Detox
Goldfaden MD
 →
Autograph Matte Lipstick
Finding Ferdinand
 →
Cruise Liner Lip Pencil
Gen See
 →
Golden Hour Body Serum
Ursa Major
 →
holi (sun) spf 50 dewy tinted skin drops
Agent Nateur
 →
holi (lash) growth mascara
Agent Nateur
 →
holi (soleil) firming & plumping mineral spf 50 sunscreen
Agent Nateur
 →
hydration heroes set
Cocokind
 →
Eye Stylus Shadow Stick
ILIA Beauty
 →
Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 30
ILIA Beauty
 →
BB Burst
Kosas
 →
Brow Pop Nano
Kosas
 →
Revealer Concealer
Kosas
 →
Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation SPF 25
Kosas
 →
lactic acid cleanser duo
Agent Nateur
 →
Bright Start Creamy Buildable Airbrush Concealer
LYS Beauty
 →
Higher Standard Satin Matte Cream Blush
LYS Beauty
 →
The New Tendency Duo
Nécessaire
 →
peptide fine line eye gel
Cocokind
 →
Radiance Boosting Starter Set
Goldfaden MD
 →
Radiance Reset
Bloom Effects
 →
Radiance Whip
Goldfaden MD
 →
Ready, Set, Smooth
Goldfaden MD
 →
Refreshing Water Cream
COOLA
 →
rise + shine trio
Cocokind
 →
ReFresh Eye Brightener Broad Spectrum SPF 30 + Correcting Tint
RMS Beauty
 →
SunCoverup Super Tint SPF 50
RMS Beauty
 →
Double Polishing Peel
Alpyn Beauty
 →
Melt Moisturizer
Alpyn Beauty
 →
The Radiance Ritual
Alpyn Beauty
 →
Regenerating Gel Mask
Credo Beauty
 →
Regenerating Gel Mask (20ml)
Grown Alchemist
 →
Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40
ILIA Beauty
 →
The ILIA Look
ILIA Beauty
 →
Daily SPF 50 Primer
Indie Lee
 →
DreamBeam SPF 40 PA++++
Kosas
 →
Revealer Extra Bright
Kosas
 →
Influence of Oil Polarity and Cosurfactants on the Foamability of Mono- and Diacylphosphatidylcholine Stabilized Emulsions.
Bunk M, Daniels R
Pharmaceutics, 2022
→
Effects of ethanol and diclofenac on the organization of hydrogenated phosphatidylcholine bilayer vesicles and their ability as skin carriers.
Castangia I, Manca ML, Matricardi P, Catalán-Latorre A, Nácher A et al.
Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine, 2015
→
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Lecithin and Hydrogenated Lecithin
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Safety Assessment of Lecithin and Other Phosphoglycerides as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Hydrogenated Lecithin
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Hydrogenated Lysolecithin
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Hydrogenated Lysophosphatidylcholine
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Lecithin (NF)
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Lecithinamide DEA
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Lysolecithin
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Phosphatidylcholine
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Hydrogenated Lysophosphatidylcholine
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Lecithin
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Lysolecithin
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Phosphatidylcholine
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Final report on the safety assessment of Lecithin and Hydrogenated Lecithin.
Fiume Z
International journal of toxicology, 2001
→
Safety Assessment of Lecithin and Other Phosphoglycerides...
Wilbur Johnson, Wilma F Bergfeld, Donald V Belsito, Ronald A Hill, Curtis D Klaassen, Daniel C Liebler + 6 more
International journal of toxicology, 2020
→
Effect of a combination of medium chain triglycerides, linoleic acid, soy lecithin and vitamins A and E on wound healing in rats.
Magalhães MS, Fechine FV, Macedo RN, Monteiro DL, Oliveira CC et al.
Acta cirurgica brasileira, 2008
→
Biocompatible lecithin-based microemulsions with rhamnolipid and sophorolipid biosurfactants: formulation and potential applications.
Nguyen TT, Edelen A, Neighbors B, Sabatini DA
Journal of colloid and interface science, 2010
→
Mesotherapy and phosphatidylcholine injections: historica...
Adam M Rotunda, Michael S Kolodney
Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.], 2006
→
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR