Lecithin

Lecithin was originally discovered in the mid-1800's and was a designation for pure phosphatidylcholine that is found in many organisms (most notably in egg yolks). It has since become a blanket term for a group of phospholipids that are found naturally in human, animal, and plant tissues. It is generally composed of a mixture of phosphoric acid, choline, fatty acids, glycerol, glycolipids, triglycerides, and phospholipids (such as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylinositol).

Lecithin is most often sourced from soybeans, but because of the European Union has been tightening its regulations on soy products (largely because soybeans often come from genetically modified plants and can be allergens in food) a gradual shift to other sources of lecithin has taken place, with the preferred alternative now being sunflower oil. The main phospholipids in lecithin from sunflower oil are phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidyl inositol, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, and phosphatidic acid.

Lecithin is useful in organic skincare products that contain oil and water because it is a natural emulsifier that also serves as a liposome carrier of active ingredients deeper into the skin. The phosphatidylcholine component of lecithin is especially useful when considering its liposome properties because this compound is present in all cellular organisms, being one of the major components of the phospholipid portion of cell membranes; so cells readily absorb it into their structure and any beneficial active ingredients it may be carrying.