Excellent Emollient

Cetyl Palmitate

INCI: CETYL PALMITATE

CAS Number
540-10-3
Function
Waxy ester of cetyl alcohol (C16) and palmitic acid (C16:0). Functions as thickener, co-emulsifier, and consistency agent in anhydrous formulations, balms, and stick products. Provides waxy skin feel and enhanced product structure. Fully saturated with excellent oxidative stability.
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted
US Notes CIR reviewed and considered safe at current use concentrations. Synthetically produced. Palm-derived supply chain: EUDR plot-level traceability and RSPO certification required for EU market compliance.

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
low
Sensitization
none

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Safe, well-tolerated waxy ester thickener and co-emulsifier with excellent oxidative stability. Used in balms, stick formulations, lipsticks, and barrier creams.

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Concern Level: None

Regulatory Flags

thickener emollient-ester palm-derivative eudr-compliance rspo-required oxidatively-stable synthetically-defined ifra_fragrance

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cetyl Palmitate safe in cosmetics?

Safe, well-tolerated waxy ester thickener and co-emulsifier with excellent oxidative stability. Used in balms, stick formulations, lipsticks, and barrier creams. The EU classifies Cetyl Palmitate as "permitted". Safety rating: EXCELLENT.

Is Cetyl Palmitate allowed in the EU?

Cetyl Palmitate EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Cetyl Palmitate do in cosmetics?

Cetyl Palmitate functions as: Waxy ester of cetyl alcohol (C16) and palmitic acid (C16:0). Functions as thickener, co-emulsifier, and consistency agent in anhydrous formulations, balms, and stick products. Provides waxy skin feel and enhanced product structure. Fully saturated with excellent oxidative stability.. It is classified as a Emollient in our database. CAS number: 540-10-3.

What is the Margin of Safety for Cetyl Palmitate?

adequate The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

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