Definition:
An organic compound that doesn't dissolve in water but does dissolve in fats, oils, and alcohols. The type of lipid that is most important to the skin is the phospholipid. Phospholipids have a hydrophobic, or "water-hating" end, and a hydrophilic, or "water-loving" end. In the skin cells, these phospholipids are arranged in two rows with the "water hating" ends together and the "water loving" ends facing out. This arrangement allows them to exist in an organized fashion in the skin, which is about 70% water.
Also Known As: phospholipids, fat
