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Tridecyl Salicylate

What Tridecyl Salicylate is & what it does

Tridecyl Salicylate is an ester formed from salicylic acid and a fatty alcohol, which gives it an oil-soluble, emollient character. In formulas it is commonly used as a skin-conditioning agent and emollient that adds slip and a smooth feel. Unlike free salicylic acid, it is not used as an exfoliating acid because the salicylate group is bound in the ester.

What does Tridecyl Salicylate do in skincare?

Tridecyl Salicylate is an ester of salicylic acid and tridecyl alcohol. In skincare and sunscreen formulas it is commonly used as an emollient and skin-conditioning agent that helps soften the skin and improve a product's spreadability. It is an ester rather than free salicylic acid, so it behaves more like a lightweight oil component.

Is Tridecyl Salicylate safe?

Tridecyl Salicylate is used in cosmetic products as an emollient and is generally regarded as well tolerated at the levels used in formulas. Individual skin responses can vary, so patch testing a new product is a sensible step. This is general information and not medical advice.

Is Tridecyl Salicylate natural or synthetic?

Tridecyl Salicylate is a synthetic ester, produced by combining salicylic acid with tridecyl alcohol. It does not occur in this form in nature. It contains no animal-derived components, so it is generally considered suitable for vegan formulations.

Sunscreens with Tridecyl Salicylate

We rate 72 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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