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Ethylhexyl Palmitate

What Ethylhexyl Palmitate is & what it does

A light emollient ester used to soften skin and improve spread, with a smooth, dry finish. It also serves as a solvent for oil-soluble ingredients.

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

It is a light emollient ester used to soften the skin and improve how a formula spreads, leaving a smooth, dry finish. It also acts as a solvent that helps dissolve oil-soluble ingredients, including some UV filters, so they distribute evenly. It is a common way to give a sunscreen a silky, lightweight feel.

Is Ethylhexyl Palmitate safe?

Yes. It is a widely used cosmetic emollient regarded as safe at the levels found in skincare and sunscreen, and it works on the skin surface. The main caveat is suitability rather than safety: it can clog pores on acne-prone skin. Those who break out easily may prefer a lighter, non-comedogenic alternative.

Does Ethylhexyl Palmitate clog pores?

Yes, it can. We flag Ethylhexyl Palmitate as highly comedogenic, so it is among the ingredients more likely to clog pores or trigger breakouts on acne-prone skin. Despite its light, dry feel, it is a known pore-clogging culprit for blemish-prone types. Skin that is not acne-prone generally tolerates it without trouble.

Is Ethylhexyl Palmitate fungal-acne safe?

No. It is a fatty ester (derived from palmitic acid) that the malassezia yeast linked to fungal acne can use as food, so people managing fungal acne should avoid it. It is also highly comedogenic, giving breakout-prone skin a second reason for caution. For everyone else it is harmless and simply acts as a light emollient.

Is Ethylhexyl Palmitate natural or synthetic?

It is synthetic in the sense that it is made by joining fatty building blocks, though those parts can come from natural sources like palm or coconut. The finished ester does not occur in nature as such, but it is often used as a plant-derived, silicone-free way to get a light, dry slip. That makes it a common pick in formulas marketed as natural.

Sunscreens with Ethylhexyl Palmitate

We rate 318 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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