Phosphatidylcholine (inci)

"phosphatidylcholine" means a member of the glycerophospholipid family formed by esterification of glycerol-3-phosphoric acid with a saturated (R1) and an unsaturated fatty acid (R2) The phosphate group of glycerol-3-phosphoric acid is esterified with choline (R3) in phosphatidylcholine.

Phosphatidylcholine is used in cosmetic formulations. The extract acts as an antistatic agent (reduces static charges by neutralizing the electrical charge on the surface, e.g. of hair), combability aid i.e. it reduces or prevents tangling of the hair due to changes or damage on the hair surface and thus improves combability, emollient (makes the skin smooth and supple), emulsifier (surface-active substance used in cosmetic preparations as an auxiliary agent to combine 2 immiscible liquids - e.g. oil and water - into one emulsion).