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Triethyl Citrate

What Triethyl Citrate is & what it does

A citrate ester used as a solvent and to support preservation and reduce odor, also giving a light, smooth feel. It is mild and multifunctional.

What is Triethyl Citrate and what does it do in sunscreen?

Triethyl Citrate is a citrate ester used as a mild, multifunctional solvent. In a sunscreen it helps dissolve other ingredients, supports preservation, and can reduce odour, while leaving a light, smooth feel on the skin. It is a gentle, supporting ingredient rather than an active or UV filter.

Is Triethyl Citrate safe?

Yes. It is a mild, widely used cosmetic ingredient derived from citric acid and ethanol, and the same ester is used as a food additive (E1505). At the small levels used in sunscreen it is well tolerated and not known as a common irritant. It works on the surface as a solvent and texture aid, so it is considered low risk.

Does Triethyl Citrate clog pores?

Generally no. It is a light, low-molecular-weight ester used in small amounts, not a heavy oil or wax, so it is not one of the classic pore-clogging ingredients. It tends to leave a smooth, non-greasy feel. If you are breaking out, richer emollients elsewhere in the formula are far more likely the cause.

Is Triethyl Citrate a preservative?

Not on its own. Triethyl Citrate is mainly a solvent and texture ingredient, though it can support a formula's preservation and help reduce odour. The main preserving work is done by dedicated preservatives like phenoxyethanol or ethylhexylglycerin; Triethyl Citrate plays a helping role around them.

Is Triethyl Citrate natural?

It is synthetic but built from natural-derived building blocks: citric acid (found in citrus) and ethanol, joined into an ester in a lab. The finished ingredient is nature-identical in spirit but produced industrially, which is normal for a clean, consistent cosmetic grade.

Sunscreens with Triethyl Citrate

We rate 140 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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