Cetyl Laurate
AKA “Hexadecyl dodecanoate, Palmityl laurate, Dodecanoic acid, hexadecyl ester, Hexadecyl laurate, I19DN3Q5ZP, CETINOL LU, LAURATE DE CETYLE, Lauric acid, cetyl ester, WE(16:0/12:0)”
Emollient
Ingredient Facts
Cetyl laurate
AKA: Hexadecyl dodecanoate, Palmityl laurate, Dodecanoic acid, Hexadecyl ester, Hexadecyl laurate, I19DN3Q5ZP, CETINOL LU, LAURATE DE CETYLE, Lauric acid, Cetyl ester, WE(16:0/12:0)
Emollient · Emollient · EWG: 4
Synthetic
Emollient
Skin Conditioner
Plant Oil
Not Clean
The CIR Expert Panel concluded that the alkyl esters, listed subsequently, are safe in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment when formulated to be non-irritating.
Effective at 15.35%
Formula
C28H56O2
Mol. Weight
424.70
CAS #
20834-06-4
Form
Liquid
State
Other Solid
See origin →
Functions
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Emollient
Fills in the tiny cracks between skin cells to make everything feel smooth and soft. The "silky finish" ingredient.
Viscosity Controlling
Locks In Moisture
Traditional Use
A synthetic ester developed in the 20th century combining cetyl alcohol with lauric acid. Used in cosmetics as an emollient and thickening agent with no traditional antecedent.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
Dryness
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
0.7%
30.0%
0%42%
Effective Range
CIR reported use: 0.7-30 | 1-5
Regulatory Agencies
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Cetyl Esters
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Oleic Acid, Lauric Acid, Palmitic Acid, Myristic Acid, and Stearic Acid
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Cetyl Esters
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Cetyl Laurate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Hydrogenated Castor Oil Cetyl Esters
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Hydroxylauric Acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Isocetyl Laurate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Lauric Acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Methacrylamidolauric Acid Copolymer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Cetyl Esters
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Lauric Acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Solvent-free enzymatic production of high quality cetyl esters.
Serrano-Arnaldos M, Máximo-Martín MF, Montiel-Morte MC, Ortega-Requena S, Gómez-Gómez E et al.
Bioprocess and biosystems engineering, 2016
Solvent-free enzymatic production of high quality cetyl esters.
Serrano-Arnaldos M, Máximo-Martín MF, Montiel-Morte MC, Ortega-Requena S, Gómez-Gómez E et al.
Bioprocess and biosystems engineering, 2016
Solvent-free enzymatic production of high quality cetyl esters.
Serrano-Arnaldos M, Máximo-Martín MF, Montiel-Morte MC, Ortega-Requena S, Gómez-Gómez E et al.
Bioprocess and biosystems engineering, 2016
Solvent-free enzymatic production of high quality cetyl esters.
Serrano-Arnaldos M, Máximo-Martín MF, Montiel-Morte MC, Ortega-Requena S, Gómez-Gómez E et al.
Bioprocess and biosystems engineering, 2016
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR