Pharmaceutical and cosmetic uses of palm and lauric products

The pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries are large and still growing. New products, astute marketing and sophisticated advertising have been very effective in these industries. They are more and more exacting and highly complex in their requirements. They require specification products with specific performance characteristics. The cosmetic industry and drug or pharmaceutical industries are defined. Information is given about the unique composition of palm and lauric oils which make them suitable raw materials for use in these applications. These two base oils are used in the form of triglycerides, whole fatty acids, fractionated fatty acids or fatty chemical derivatives. Information is given about these various ingredients, their use in specific cosmetic and pharmaceutical products and reasons for their use. Particular use is made of palmitic, stearic, myristic and short-chain fatty acids. The derivatives would include glycerine esters, monostearates, other monoglycerides, propylene glycol esters, polyglycerol esters, sorbitans and sorbitan ethylene oxide products, isopropyl palmitic and myristate. Specific powdered stearins and cocoa butter substitutes are used in various formulations. The production and marketing of ingredients for this industry are natural growths of the developing fatty acid industry in Malaysia and nearby countries of southeast Asia.