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Cetyl Esters

What Cetyl Esters is & what it does

A synthetic wax blend used to thicken and add a smooth, velvety body to creams. It conditions the skin surface and stabilizes the formula.

What does Cetyl Esters do in skincare?

Cetyl Esters is a wax-like blend used as an emollient and thickener. In creams and sunscreens it helps give body to the formula and leaves a smooth, conditioned feel on the skin. It is often used as a synthetic alternative to natural spermaceti-type waxes.

Is Cetyl Esters comedogenic?

Cetyl Esters is a wax used to add texture and emolliency, and reports on its pore-clogging potential vary, so a single rating cannot be stated with certainty. How a product behaves depends on the full formula and on your own skin. If you are prone to breakouts, you may prefer to patch test and watch how your skin responds.

Is Cetyl Esters vegan?

Cetyl Esters as used today is typically a synthetic wax blend made to replace older animal-derived spermaceti, but the source of the fatty components can vary by supplier. Whether a specific product is vegan depends on the manufacturer, so check the brand's labeling if this matters to you.

Sunscreens with Cetyl Esters

We rate 21 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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