Tall Oil Acid
AKA: Tall oil fatty acid, Tallol acid, Naphthenic acid
Plant-Derived
Emollient
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Skin Conditioner
Clean
Fatty acids, tall-oil
CAS #
61790-12-3
Form
Oil
Functions
Cleansing
Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.
Emollient
Fills in the tiny cracks between skin cells to make everything feel smooth and soft. The "silky finish" ingredient.
Cleansing
Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.
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
Tall oil is a byproduct of wood pulp processing developed in the early 20th century in Scandinavia. The fatty acids derived from tall oil were subsequently adopted by the cosmetics industry in the mid-20th century as emulsifiers and thickening agents.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewednone on file
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed3 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR