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Cholesterol

What Cholesterol is & what it does

A key barrier lipid that, alongside ceramides and fatty acids, helps rebuild and seal the skin's protective layer. It restores softness and reduces moisture loss.

What is Cholesterol and what does it do in sunscreen?

Cholesterol is a skin-identical lipid and one of the building blocks of the skin barrier, alongside ceramides and fatty acids. In a formula it helps soften the skin, support the barrier, and reduce moisture loss, which is why it appears in barrier-focused and sensitive-skin sunscreens. It also acts as a soothing, conditioning ingredient that makes the formula feel comfortable.

Is Cholesterol safe?

Yes. Cholesterol is a lipid that naturally occurs in the skin, so it is very well tolerated as a cosmetic ingredient. It works to support and condition the skin's surface and is not a common irritant. It is a familiar, gentle barrier ingredient.

Does Cholesterol clog pores?

Generally no. Although it is a lipid, cosmetic cholesterol is used at low levels as part of a barrier-repair blend rather than as a heavy oil, and it is not flagged as comedogenic here. For most people it conditions the skin without being a notable pore-clogging ingredient.

Is Cholesterol vegan?

Not always. Cholesterol can be sourced from animal materials or made synthetically, and the INCI name alone does not say which. If a vegan formula matters to you, look for products that state they use a synthetic or plant-derived, vegan-suitable cholesterol.

What is Cholesterol on an ingredient list (INCI)?

Cholesterol is the INCI name shown on the label, and it is the same lipid that is naturally part of the skin barrier. It is usually paired with ceramides and fatty acids to mimic the skin's own lipid mix. It typically appears in the lower half of the list, since it is used in small amounts.

Sunscreens with Cholesterol

We rate 258 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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