An ester of cetearyl alcohol and palmitic acid, listed as an emollient and conditioning ingredient.
What it is
Cetearyl palmitate is the ester of cetearyl alcohol, a mixture of C16-18 fatty alcohols, with palmitic acid, a waxy fatty ester. CosIng lists it as an emollient, hair-conditioning and skin-conditioning ingredient.
Where it is used
Appears on the ingredient lists of a small number of products.
Limits of interpretation
The INCI list shows which ingredients are present, not how much of each. Above 1%, ingredients are listed in descending order of weight; below 1% the order is free.
The INCI name does not reveal whether the fatty raw materials are of plant or other origin.
Functions
- Skin conditioning – emollient
- Acting as lubricants on the skin surface providing the skin with a soft and smooth appearance.
- Hair conditioning
- Enhancing the appearance and feel of hair. Leaving the hair easy to comb, supple, soft and shiny and/or imparting volume, lightness, gloss, texture, etc.
- Skin conditioning
- Maintaining the skin in good condition.
EU regulation
This ingredient is not listed in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 in the CosIng data.

