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Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate

What Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate is & what it does

Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate is an ester made from 2-ethylhexyl alcohol and hydroxystearic acid, used as an emollient and skin-conditioning agent. In sunscreens and lotions it gives a lightweight, smooth slip and helps spread pigments or UV filters evenly. Its low polarity makes it useful for dispersing mineral filters like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

What does Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate do in skincare?

Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate is an emollient and skin-conditioning ester that gives products a smooth, lightweight slip. In sunscreens it is often used to help disperse mineral UV filters such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide evenly. This contributes to a more uniform feel and application.

Is Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate comedogenic?

There is limited public data on the comedogenicity of Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, so a firm rating is hard to state. As a lightweight ester it is generally regarded as a low-concern emollient for most skin types. If you are acne-prone, you may want to patch test and monitor how your skin responds.

Is Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate safe?

Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate is widely used as an emollient and is generally considered safe at the levels used in cosmetics. It is not associated with significant irritation for most people. Those with very sensitive skin can patch test a new product first.

Sunscreens with Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate

We rate 29 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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