Good Emollient Dermal Penetration

Ethylhexyl Palmitate

INCI: ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE

CAS Number
29806-73-3
Function
emollient, skin-conditioning
Safety Rating
GOOD

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status permitted
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes No specific FDA restriction or monograph limitation identified for Ethylhexyl Palmitate in cosmetic use. Not a UV filter; not subject to FDA sunscreen GRASE evaluation. Used only as an emollient/vehicle in sunscreen formulations. Structurally similar alkyl esters are approved as direct or indirect food additives, which the CIR Panel considers supportive of cosmetic safety.

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.

Dermal Penetration Profile

Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Ethylhexyl Palmitate, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.

Absorption %
3-8%
Penetration Level
stratum-corneum
Penetration Depth
stratum corneum
Molecular Weight
368.6 Da
Log P
9.5
Systemic Absorption
minimal
Topical Bioavailability
2-6%
Safety Margin Factor
low
Vehicle Dependent
Yes — absorption varies by formulation

Source: CIR

Expert Verdict

Ethylhexyl Palmitate is a fatty acid ester emollient permitted in the EU with no specific Annex restrictions or maximum concentration limits. CIR Amended Safety Assessment of Alkyl Esters concluded the ingredient is safe in present practices of use and concentration when formulated to be non-irritating, with HRIPT at 77.9% in body oil confirming no sensitization and negative genotoxicity testing.

⚠️
Concern Level: Low

Regulatory Flags

eu-unrestricted cir-approved no-sccs-opinion

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ethylhexyl Palmitate safe in cosmetics?

Ethylhexyl Palmitate is a fatty acid ester emollient permitted in the EU with no specific Annex restrictions or maximum concentration limits. CIR Amended Safety Assessment of Alkyl Esters concluded the ingredient is safe in present practices of use and concentration when formulated to be non-irritating, with HRIPT at 77.9% in body oil confirming no sensitization and negative genotoxicity testing. The EU classifies Ethylhexyl Palmitate as "permitted". Safety rating: GOOD.

Is Ethylhexyl Palmitate allowed in the EU?

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

What does Ethylhexyl Palmitate do in cosmetics?

Ethylhexyl Palmitate functions as: emollient, skin-conditioning. It is classified as a Emollient in our database. CAS number: 29806-73-3.

What is the Margin of Safety for Ethylhexyl 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.

Compliance Tools

Check Ethylhexyl Palmitate compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
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Substance Compliance
Check compliance across 55 jurisdictions
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
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Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions

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