Dicetyl Phosphate

What Dicetyl Phosphate is & what it does

Dicetyl Phosphate is a phosphate ester of cetyl alcohol used mainly as an emulsifier and emulsion stabilizer. In creams, lotions, and sunscreens it helps keep oil and water phases blended and improves the stability of the formula. It is often paired with Ceteth-10 Phosphate as part of an emulsifier system.

What does Dicetyl Phosphate do in skincare?

Dicetyl Phosphate is used in creams, lotions, and sunscreens as an emulsifier and emulsion stabilizer. It helps keep the oil and water parts of a formula blended and stable. It is often used together with related phosphate emulsifiers.

Is Dicetyl Phosphate safe?

Dicetyl Phosphate is commonly used in cosmetics and is generally considered safe at the levels found in finished products. It works mainly as a formulation helper rather than an active ingredient. Reports of irritation are uncommon.

Is Dicetyl Phosphate natural or synthetic?

Dicetyl Phosphate is a synthetic ingredient, made by reacting cetyl alcohol with a phosphorus compound. The cetyl alcohol it starts from can be sourced from plant oils. The finished emulsifier is produced through chemical processing.

Sunscreens with Dicetyl Phosphate

We rate 82 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

• Belotti Bloqueador Solar Face 60 SPF 88/100
• the Aubree Sunscreen SPF 50 Pa +++ 87/100
• Base Ultra Soothe Natural Sunscreen SPF 50 Pa+++ 87/100
• UVsmart Sunscreen Gel SPF 40+ 87/100
• Base Ultra Matte Natural Sunscreen SPF 50 Pa+++ 85/100
• Teoxane Advanced Perfecting Shield SPF 30 84/100
• Hawaiian Tropic Hydrating Protection Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 76/100
• conaturals Sunscreen SPF 60 75/100
• Ethicare remedies UV Med SPF Gel 75/100
• Aloe Unique SPF 50 Sun Lotion 74/100

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