Glow Simplified
Check your shelf
Evening

Ingredient glossary

Lecithin

What Lecithin does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.

INCI: Lecithin

Minor player

In short: Lecithin delivers emulsification and penetration enhancer, suits most skin types, and the evidence behind it is moderate.

What it does
Emulsification, penetration enhancer
Best for
Most skin types
Evidence
Moderate
Does it clash with what you use? Check it →

Written by Maya Faour, founder and sole writer; not a dermatologistHow we work →

The Glow take

Nice to have, and nothing to overthink.

Lecithin plays a quiet supporting role, rounding out a formula rather than being the reason you buy it.

— Maya

What it does

  • emulsification
  • penetration enhancer
  • softening

moderate evidenceLong-standing use as a natural emulsifier and liposome former, with reasonable evidence that it increases penetration of what it carries.

Why we say this
  • Unsaturated grades oxidise, which is why formulas pair it with an antioxidant.

The phospholipid family, at a glance

3 phospholipid entries in the base, Lecithin among them. 3 of the 3 are an emulsifier.

  1. Hydrogenated Lecithin
  2. Lecithin
  3. Phospholipids
What the family shares: every one of the 3 is an emulsifier in the base.In alphabetical order: the base holds nothing that ranks them.

Who it's for, and who should skip it

Tends to suit

  • dry
  • normal

Approach with care

  • acne prone if heavy
  • fungal acne prone
  • Clogs poresModerate
  • Irritation riskLow

How it fits each skin type

  • DrySuits
  • CombinationSuits
  • OilySuits
  • SensitiveSuits

Take extra care if any of these apply to you: acne prone (in heavy layers), fungal acne prone.

Where it fits in your routine

WhenMorning or evening
Where in the orderAfter cleansing, before your moisturizer

Plays well with

  • ceramides
  • emollients
  • emulsifiers

Lecithin, answered

Is Lecithin safe during pregnancy?

Yes. Lecithin is considered safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. As with anything, if you are unsure it is worth a quick word with your doctor or midwife.

Who should avoid Lecithin?

Approach Lecithin with care if any of these apply to you: acne prone (in heavy layers) and fungal acne prone. It carries a moderate risk of clogging pores, so acne-prone skin should go carefully.

What concentration of Lecithin actually works?

Its concentration is rarely printed on the label, so use the ingredient list as your clue: near the top third it is likely doing real work, near the bottom it is more of a sprinkle.

This, for every label you own

One ingredient is easy. A full label is where it gets confusing. The Ingredient Decoder reads any product and tells you the honest truth, ingredient by ingredient.

Decode my products →

Sources & how we reviewed this

  1. PMID 32975152abstract read, not the full text
  2. PMID 11358109abstract read, not the full text

Last reviewed . Educational information about a cosmetic ingredient, not medical advice.

What changed on this page

  • : who should avoid it, whether it feeds Malassezia
  • : what the EU regulates
  • : sources

See the full changelog →