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Cetyl Palmitate

What Cetyl Palmitate is & what it does

A waxy emollient ester that thickens and stabilizes formulas while conditioning the skin surface. It gives a smooth, velvety afterfeel.

What is Cetyl Palmitate and what does it do in sunscreen?

Cetyl Palmitate is a waxy emollient ester. In sunscreen it thickens and stabilizes the formula while conditioning the skin surface, giving the product body and a smooth, velvety afterfeel. It is a structural, texture-building ingredient rather than an active.

Is Cetyl Palmitate safe?

Yes. It is a simple ester of cetyl alcohol and palmitic acid, both long-established and well-tolerated cosmetic building blocks. Cetyl Palmitate is not flagged as an allergen in our data and is considered gentle for most skin. It is widely used to give creams a pleasant feel without much irritation risk.

Does Cetyl Palmitate clog pores?

For most people, no. Our data does not flag it with a notable comedogenic rating, so it is generally a low-risk choice. It is a waxy texturizer used in modest amounts, though anyone who is very acne-prone can simply watch how rich, waxy ingredients suit them. Heavier oils and butters in a formula are the more usual breakout culprits.

Is Cetyl Palmitate fungal-acne safe?

If you are actively managing fungal acne, you may want to avoid it. Cetyl Palmitate is a fatty ester, and the malassezia yeast behind fungal acne can use fatty esters as a food source, so they are often left out of fungal-acne-safe routines. For everyone else it is harmless and purely a texture ingredient. This is one specific skin concern, not a general safety issue.

What is Cetyl Palmitate on an ingredient list (INCI)?

"Cetyl Palmitate" is the INCI name printed on the label. It is the ester formed from cetyl alcohol and palmitic acid, a waxy material once associated with spermaceti but now made from plant or synthetic sources. It usually appears in the middle of an ingredient list among the thickeners and emollients.

Sunscreens with Cetyl Palmitate

We rate 269 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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