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Tridecane

What Tridecane is & what it does

A light hydrocarbon emollient that gives sunscreen a smooth, quick-spreading, non-greasy feel. It softens skin and helps the formula glide on evenly, often as part of a fast-absorbing emollient blend. It leaves a dry, weightless finish rather than an oily one.

What is Tridecane and what does it do in sunscreen?

Tridecane is a light hydrocarbon used as an emollient. In a sunscreen it softens skin and helps the product spread quickly and evenly, leaving a dry, lightweight feel instead of a greasy one. It is often part of a blend designed for fast, weightless application.

Is Tridecane safe?

Yes. Tridecane is a well-tolerated emollient used at cosmetic levels with no notable safety concerns. It sits on the surface of skin and is non-irritating for most people. It appears in many lightweight facial and body sunscreens.

Does Tridecane clog pores?

Generally no. Tridecane is a light, volatile-feeling hydrocarbon rather than a heavy oil or wax, and it is not flagged as comedogenic in our data. It is used to make formulas feel lighter, not richer. Overall formula matters more than any single ingredient if you are prone to breakouts.

Is Tridecane a UV filter?

No. Tridecane does not absorb or block UV light. It is an emollient that controls how the product feels and spreads, while the protection comes from the listed UV filters. It often appears near other lightweight emollients rather than the actives.

What is Tridecane on an ingredient list (INCI)?

"Tridecane" is the INCI name on the label. It is a straight-chain hydrocarbon, sometimes seen paired with undecane in a light emollient blend. You will usually find it in the oil phase among the texture ingredients.

Sunscreens with Tridecane

We rate 198 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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