Ethylhexyl Benzoate
AKA “
2-Ethylhexyl benzoate, Benzoic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester, 2-Ethyl-1-hexanol benzoate, UNII-R63ZWW1A13, R63ZWW1A13, DTXSID4041654, FINSOLV EB, EINECS 226-641-8, NSC 19155
”
Emollient
🦆
❤️
👻
Ingredient Facts
Ethylhexyl benzoate
AKA: 2-Ethylhexyl benzoate, Benzoic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester, 2-Ethyl-1-hexanol benzoate, UNII-R63ZWW1A13, R63ZWW1A13, DTXSID4041654, FINSOLV EB, EINECS 226-641-8, NSC 19155
Emollient · Emollient · EWG: 1
WHAT IS IT?
Synthetic
Emollient
Solvent
Skin Conditioner
Clean
2-Ethylhexyl benzoate
Solubility
Practically insoluble or insoluble in water
Formula
C15H22O2
Mol. Weight
234.33
CAS #
5444-75-7
Form
Liquid
State
Liquid
See origin →
WHAT'S IT DO?
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.
Solvent
Dissolves other ingredients so they distribute evenly in the formula. Often the invisible "base" everything else is mixed into.
Locks In Moisture
Traditional Use
A synthetic ester developed for cosmetic applications. Used as a light emollient and solvent in sunscreens, fragrances, and skincare products.
Skin Types
●
all-skin-types
Best For
Dryness
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
IS IT SAFE?
EWG
1
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not Phototoxic
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USA
✔ permitted
EU
⚠ restricted
JAPAN
⚠ restricted
CANADA
⚠ restricted
Regulatory Agencies
EWG
CIR
FDA
EU COSING
Health Canada
WHAT'S THE PROOF?
Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Benzoate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, and Sodium Benzoate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Safety Assessment of Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid and its Salts, and Benzyl Benzoate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
4-Hydroxybenzoic acid rescues multisystemic disease and perinatal lethality in a mouse model of mitochondrial disease.
Corral-Sarasa J, Martínez-Gálvez JM, González-García P, Wendling O, Jiménez-Sánchez L et al.
Cell reports, 2024
→
4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Ethylhexyl Benzoate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Benzoic acid and its derivatives as naturally occurring compounds in foods and as additives: Uses, exposure, and controversy.
Del Olmo A, Calzada J, Nuñez M
Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 2017
→
Benzoic acid and its derivatives as naturally occurring compounds in foods and as additives: Uses, exposure, and controversy.
Del Olmo A, Calzada J, Nuñez M
Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 2017
→
Benzoic acid and its derivatives as naturally occurring compounds in foods and as additives: Uses, exposure, and controversy.
Del Olmo A, Calzada J, Nuñez M
Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 2017
→
4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Benzoic Acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Ethylhexyl Benzoate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Safety Assessment of Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid and its...
Wilbur Johnson, Wilma F Bergfeld, Donald V Belsito, Ronald A Hill, Curtis D Klaassen, Daniel C Liebler + 5 more
International journal of toxicology, 2017
→
Safety Assessment of Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid and its...
Wilbur Johnson, Wilma F Bergfeld, Donald V Belsito, Ronald A Hill, Curtis D Klaassen, Daniel C Liebler + 5 more
International journal of toxicology, 2017
→
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR