Is Ethylhexyl Palmitate safe in cosmetics?
Ethylhexyl Palmitate has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Also known as: Hexadecanoic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester, EINECS 249-862-1, UNII-2865993309
INCI: ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE
Ethylhexyl Palmitate (CAS 29806-73-3) is a cosmetic emollient functioning as emollient, skin-conditioning. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 29806-73-3 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
emollient, skin-conditioning
Safety Rating
GOOD
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
No specific FDA restriction or monograph limitation identified for Ethylhexyl Palmitate in cosmetic use. Not a UV filter; not subject to FDA sunscreen GRASE evaluation. Used only as an emollient/vehicle in sunscreen formulations. Structurally similar alkyl esters are approved as direct or indirect food additives, which the CIR Panel considers supportive of cosmetic safety.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Ethylhexyl Palmitate.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Dermal Penetration Profile
Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Ethylhexyl Palmitate, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.
Absorption %
3-8%
Penetration Level
stratum-corneum
Penetration Depth
stratum corneum
Molecular Weight
368.6 Da
Log P
9.5
Systemic Absorption
minimal
Topical Bioavailability
2-6%
Safety Margin Factor
low
Vehicle Dependent
Yes — absorption varies by formulation
Source: CIR
HRIPT Human Patch Test Studies
1 human repeat insult patch test aggregated from dermatological literature.
| Test Type | N | Sensitized | Dose µg/cm² | NESIL µg/cm² | Potency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMT | - | 0 | 2700 | - | - |
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
10,000 - 100,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Typical Use Concentrations
Reported concentration ranges per product category from SCCS/CIR/industry sources.
| Product Category | Typical Range | Max Reported | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face Cream | 3–8 | 20 | CIR/VCRP |
| Body Lotion | 3–8 | 20 | CIR/VCRP |
Additional Ingredient Properties
10 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
comedogenicity_detail
{"comedogenicity_rating": "4", "irritancy_rating": "1", "skin_type_suitability": "dry", "acne_safe": "no", "source": "Modern ester studies"}
concentration
{"min_concentration_pct": "2.0", "max_concentration_pct": "15.0", "typical_concentration_pct": "8.0", "product_type": "Moisturizer", "function_at_concentration": "Emollient", "source": "CIR Safety Assessment"}
cost_pricing
{"cost_tier": "budget", "estimated_cost_per_kg_usd_low": "8", "estimated_cost_per_kg_usd_high": "15", "natural_premium_markup_pct": "0", "organic_certified_premium_pct": "0", "supply_chain_volatility": "low", "primary_source_region": "Global", "bulk_discount_threshold_kg": "300", "seasonal_price_variation": "low", "commodity_or_specialty": "commodity", "substitute_ingredients": "Isopropyl Palmitat…
dermal_absorption
{"molecular_weight_da": "368.6", "log_p_value": "9.5", "skin_penetration_level": "stratum-corneum", "penetration_depth": "stratum corneum", "absorption_pct": "3-8", "systemic_absorption": "minimal", "penetration_enhancer": "no", "occlusion_effect": "yes", "vehicle_dependent": "yes", "skin_barrier_effect": "neutral", "bioavailability_topical_pct": "2-6", "safety_margin_factor": "low", "source": "CI…
ecotoxicity
{"biodegradable": "yes", "biodegradation_days": "60-90", "bioaccumulative": "no", "aquatic_toxicity_level": "low", "coral_reef_safe": "yes", "marine_toxicity": "low aquatic toxicity", "freshwater_toxicity": "minimal impact", "endocrine_disruptor": "no", "persistent_organic_pollutant": "no", "microplastic": "no", "nano_particle": "no", "hawaii_banned": "no", "eu_restricted_environmental": "no", "pa…
emulsion_hlb
{"hlb_required_as_emulsifier": "no", "hlb_required_of_oil_phase": "11-12", "co_emulsifier_pairs": "polysorbate_80,ceteth_20", "optimal_oil_phase_pct": "10-30", "optimal_water_phase_pct": "70-90", "droplet_size_range_um": "1-20", "creaming_resistance": "good", "coalescence_resistance": "good", "ostwald_ripening_resistance": "moderate", "freeze_thaw_stability": "moderate", "rheology_modifier_type": …
lipid
{"cas_number": "29806-73-3", "lipid_class": "ester", "botanical_source": "synthetic/derived", "plant_part": "derived", "extraction_method": "refined", "fatty_acid_profile_main_pct": "branched palmitate", "omega_classification": "saturated", "comedogenicity_rating_0_5": "1", "absorption_rate": "fast", "skin_feel": "dry", "spreadability": "excellent", "occlusive_properties": "low", "emollient_grade"…
self_tanning
{"cas_number": "29806-73-3", "ingredient_class": "other", "tanning_mechanism": "other", "color_development_onset_hours": "0.0", "full_color_development_hours": "0", "color_duration_days": "0", "DHA_concentration_if_applicable_pct": "0", "erythrulose_concentration_pct": "0", "pH_dependent_color": "no", "formaldehyde_release_concern": "no", "formaldehyde_release_ppm": "0", "AGE_formation_concern": "…
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Fragrance
Lubricating agent
Plasticizer
Softener and conditioner
Solvent
Thickening agent
Regulatory List Membership (2)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
Consumer Product Chemical
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Ethylhexyl Palmitate.
Regulatory Flags
eu-unrestricted
cir-approved
no-sccs-opinion
Known Synonyms
Hexadecanoic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester
EINECS 249-862-1
UNII-2865993309
Chemical Function
Softener and conditioner
Fragrance
Regulatory Lists
Europe; plastic_additive
Europe; Personal care
Europe; Personal care
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
consumer_product
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ethylhexyl Palmitate allowed in the EU?
Ethylhexyl Palmitate EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Ethylhexyl Palmitate do in cosmetics?
Ethylhexyl Palmitate functions as: emollient, skin-conditioning. It is classified as a Emollient in our database. CAS number: 29806-73-3.
Is Ethylhexyl Palmitate used outside cosmetics?
Ethylhexyl Palmitate also appears in industrial chemical safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Ethylhexyl Palmitate compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
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