CETYL PALMITATE

📋 Quick facts

Description: CETYL PALMITATE — emollient, thickener.

All Functions: emollient, thickener

Quick Facts:

• Category: emollient

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Cetyl palmitate is a waxy lipid used to create tiny particle delivery systems in skincare
• When combined with other oils, it can form nanostructured carriers that are extremely small (180-240 nanometers)
• These carriers achieved 100% entrapment efficiency for Coenzyme Q10 in research studies
• The delivery system showed a two-phase release pattern: initial fast release followed by prolonged release

⚗️ Chemical Overview

Palmityl palmitate is a palmitate ester resulting from the formal condensation of palmitic acid with palmityl alcohol. It is used as a thickener and emollient in cosmetics. It has a role as a metabolite. It is functionally related to a hexadecan-1-ol. cetyl palmitate has been reported in Triticum aestivum, Psidium guajava, and Lobophytum with data available. See also: Hexadecanoic acid, ester with hexadecanol (annotation moved to).

Source(s): PubChem, LOTUS – the natural products occurrence database, ChEBI, via PubChem

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

Derived from this ingredient’s irritancy potential and comedogenicity rating against the needs of each skin type — e.g. oily and acne-prone skin are marked down for pore-clogging ingredients, sensitive skin for irritants. A starting heuristic, not a dermatological verdict.

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Cetyl palmitate is a waxy ingredient derived from palm oil that serves as a structural component in advanced skincare delivery systems. In research published in the European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics (2007), scientists used cetyl palmitate as a key building block for nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC)—essentially tiny, engineered fat particles designed to encapsulate and deliver active ingredients like Coenzyme Q10 more effectively to skin. #1: The carriers made with cetyl palmitate achieved extremely small particle sizes, measuring between 180-240 nanometers, which is useful because smaller particles can potentially penetrate skin more effectively. The particles maintained uniform sizes and remained physically stable during testing (Eur J Pharm Biopharm, 2007).

#2: Cetyl palmitate-based carriers demonstrated 100% entrapment efficiency, meaning the active ingredients incorporated into these systems remained fully contained within the delivery vehicle rather than escaping during formulation (Eur J Pharm Biopharm, 2007). #3: The delivery system created a controlled-release effect, with an initial rapid release of the active ingredient followed by a slower, prolonged release phase. This two-stage pattern differs from simpler liquid-based systems and may allow for more sustained benefits (Eur J Pharm Biopharm, 2007). It’s important to note that this research focuses on the technical properties of cetyl palmitate in laboratory formulations—actual consumer benefits on skin would require additional clinical studies not present in these abstracts.

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Teeranachaideekul V et al. (2007). Cetyl palmitate-based NLC for topical delivery of Coenzyme Q(10) – development, physicochemical characterization and in vitro release studies. Eur J Pharm Biopharm.

🧴 Products Containing CETYL PALMITATE

• Eucerin Sun Allergy Protect
• Nivea Creme
• nivea protector solar
• Nivea NIVEA Sun Protect & Hydrate SPF30 Zonnebrandspray
• Nivea NIVEA Sun Protect & Hydrate SPF50+ Zonnebrandspray
• Nivea Sun Protect & Moisture, SPF15
• Nivea, Nivea Sun Protect & Bronze 50
• Beierdorf labello med repair
• labello All-Wetter set
• NIVEA kids sensitive protect
• Nivea, Nivea Sun Sensitive Immediate Protect+, SPF30
• Eucerin Oil control
• Nivea Naturally Good Avena Naturale Nutriente
• NIVEA Sun,NIVEA babies & kids sensitive protect 50+
• Nivea sun Crème Protection Solaire Spray FPS 50+ Sensitive
• Nivea Sun protect & moisture SPF 50+
• CONAXESS TRADE NORGE AS Brillance Hårfarge 872 Intense Red
• ARTDECO, ARTDECO cosmetic GmbH Body Camouflage
• NIVEA CARE – Крем для лица для чувствительной кожи
• CREAM SILK
• Simple Regeneration Age Resisting Day Cream
• Dimple, Soft & Gentle Baby wipes fragrance free
• TandheM Neurocosmetics,TandheM Active Botanical Eye Contour (15ml)
• Fragonard Crème antirides pour le visage Vrai
• lilas cosmetics oil replacement
• CONAXESS TRADE NORGE AS Brillance Hårfarge 924 Choco Couture
• Änglamark Änglamark Sun Lotion, SPF15
• Änglamark Sun Spray, SPF15
• Arrurrú Crema avena
• Vogue Vogue polvo compacto de arroz con avena y filtros solares
• simonds pantalla solar crema
• Mustela Mustela Prévention Vergetures
• du monde à la Provence Flora : crème jour à l’argan bio parfum rose
• Léa Nature So’bio Étic Baume Respiratoire Bio Spécial Enfant
• Blistex Medicated lip balm
• Laboratoires Gilbert, Laino Soin des lèvres Cire d’abeille
• Santiveri Spray Citress
• Carrefour Crema talones agrietados
• Carrefour Toallitas desmaquillantes cara y ojos piel seca-sensible
• Eucerin Eucerin Lip Activ Soin Actif Levres Stick 4.8G (lip Care)