Is Cetyl Esters safe in cosmetics?
Cetyl Esters has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Good
Emollient
Cetyl Esters
Also known as: Octadecanoic acid, tetradecyl ester, Stearic acid, tetradecyl ester, 4-02-00-01220, BRN 1805197, EINECS 241-640-2 (+3 more)
INCI: CETYL ESTERS
Cetyl Esters (CAS 17661-50-6) is a cosmetic emollient functioning as Skin-conditioning agent (emollient). EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted, max 7%. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 17661-50-6 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Skin-conditioning agent (emollient)
Safety Rating
GOOD
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
tetradecyl octadecanoate
InChIKey
MHXBHWLGRWOABW-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
EU Max Conc.
7%
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
CIR Expert Panel concluded that Cetyl Esters is safe as used in cosmetics in the 1997 Final Report, subsequently reaffirmed in the 2013 Amended Safety Assessment of Alkyl Esters.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Cetyl Esters.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
100 - 1,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Additional Ingredient Properties
7 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
comedogenicity_detail
{"comedogenicity_rating": "2", "irritancy_rating": "0", "skin_type_suitability": "dry,combination,normal", "acne_safe": "caution", "source": "Synthetic wax"}
cost_pricing
{"cost_tier": "mid-range", "estimated_cost_per_kg_usd_low": "28", "estimated_cost_per_kg_usd_high": "50", "natural_premium_markup_pct": "0", "organic_certified_premium_pct": "0", "supply_chain_volatility": "low", "primary_source_region": "Global", "bulk_discount_threshold_kg": "100", "seasonal_price_variation": "low", "commodity_or_specialty": "specialty", "substitute_ingredients": "Jojoba Esters,…
hair_care
{"hair_function": "conditioning", "hair_type_suitability": "all", "curl_pattern_suitability": "all", "porosity_suitability": "low/medium", "protein_sensitivity": "neutral", "moisture_protein_balance": "yes", "cg_method_approved": "not-a-silicone", "silicone_type": "not-a-sulfate", "sulfate_type": "no", "drying_alcohol": "no", "fatty_alcohol": "no", "heat_protectant": "yes", "color_safe": "neutral"…
lipid
{"cas_number": "17661-50-6", "lipid_class": "wax", "botanical_source": "Cetyl Esters", "plant_part": "synthetic", "extraction_method": "refined", "fatty_acid_profile_main_pct": "wax esters", "omega_classification": "saturated", "saponification_value": "105-125", "comedogenicity_rating_0_5": "3", "absorption_rate": "very_slow", "skin_feel": "waxy", "spreadability": "poor", "occlusive_properties": "…
ph_stability
{"optimal_ph_min": "3.0", "optimal_ph_max": "10.0", "stable_ph_min": "3.0", "stable_ph_max": "11.0", "ph_dependent_function": "Wax-like emollient", "formulation_note": "Very stable", "source": "Formulation literature"}
sensory
{"silky": "waxy", "smooth, glides easily": "waxy, rich", "dry-touch, non-greasy": "smooth, conditioned", "instant": "moderate", "low": "high", "w/o": "w/o", "very-high": "moderate", "no": "yes", "yes": "no", "light-diffusing": "matte", "1.40": "1.44", "transparent": "opaque", "colorless": "white", "excellent": "fair", "light": "medium", "synthetic": "synthetic"}
solubility_hlb
{"water_soluble": "no", "oil_soluble": "yes", "hlb_required": "7.0", "soluble_in": "oils, ethanol", "insoluble_in": "water, glycerin, propylene glycol", "log_p": "13.5", "melting_point_c": "43-47", "appearance": "white flakes", "source": "Jeen"}
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Softener and conditioner
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Cetyl Esters.
Known Synonyms
Octadecanoic acid, tetradecyl ester
Stearic acid, tetradecyl ester
4-02-00-01220
BRN 1805197
EINECS 241-640-2
NSC 57589
Tetradecyl octadecanoate
UNII-FQ3748IN84
Chemical Function
Softener and conditioner
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cetyl Esters allowed in the EU?
Cetyl Esters EU regulatory status: permitted. Maximum allowed concentration: 7%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Cetyl Esters do in cosmetics?
Cetyl Esters functions as: Skin-conditioning agent (emollient). It is classified as a Emollient in our database. CAS number: 17661-50-6.
Is Cetyl Esters used outside cosmetics?
Cetyl Esters also appears in industrial chemical safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Cetyl Esters compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
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Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
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Heavy Metal Limits
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