Isoeicosane was developed in Japan in the 1970s and is now used in thousands of products worldwide. Despite its growing popularity, isoeicosane is still largely unexplored by the cosmetics and beauty industry. Mineral oils on the other hand, have been used widely throughout the history of mankind, from early Egyptian mummies to modern, synthetic cosmetic products. There are two major reasons why the demand for Isoeicosane/iodosannic acid has not been tapped.
The first reason is that the synthetic chemical is difficult to work with, as it must be mixed with carrier oils (such as grape seed or cocoa butter) in order for it to form a uniform emollient. This means that many cosmetic manufacturers simply cannot afford to use isoeicosane in their personal care products. Extensive research has been done on both isoeicosane and the health hazards of its derivatives, however; and to date, there have been no substantial health warning signs released due to the use of isoeicosane.