Is ethylhexyl palmitate bad for your skin?

It's in a variety of cosmetics

Ethylhexyl palmitate is often found in many cosmetics. It is often used in high concentrations as the main ingredient in cleansing oils and cleansing balms.

But why is it in so many cosmetics? I also wonder if it's safe to use every day without putting a strain on my skin.

In this article, we will explain in detail the reasons why ethylhexyl palmitate is used in many cosmetics and its characteristics.

What is Ethylhexyl Palmitate?

Palmitic acid is a fatty acid that occurs naturally in plants and animals. It can be derived from plants, such as palm oil and coconut oil, animals, or synthetic sources.

Ethylhexyl palmitate is a combination of palmitic acid and fatty alcohol. It is a nearly colorless, transparent, odorless liquid synthetic oil.

Why is ethylhexyl palmitate used in cosmetics?

Ethylhexyl palmitate has a silicone -like feel.

For this reason, it is sometimes used in place of silicone in cosmetics , especially in natural and organic cosmetics where silicone, a synthetic ingredient, cannot be used.

Silicone is a cosmetic ingredient that is light to use and non-sticky. It forms a thin film on the surface of the skin, adhering tightly to it, covering unevenness and creating a smooth feel.

Ethylhexyl palmitate has similar characteristics to silicone. In other words, by covering the surface of the skin, you can expect the following effects:

• Makes skin soft and smooth (emollient effect)
• Reduces moisture loss from the skin surface
• Non-sticky, silky smooth finish

It is incorporated into skin care and makeup products in the hope of achieving these effects.

Silicones: Why you should choose silicone-free skincare

Other features

The reason why ethylhexyl palmitate is valued as a cosmetic ingredient is not just because it improves usability and texture.

Excellent solvent

A solvent is a substance that dissolves other ingredients. Apparently ethylhexyl palmitate is a very good solvent.

This is because the ingredients remain evenly dispersed throughout the entire duration of the cosmetic product.

For example, eyeliner and other point makeup is useless if the coloring agent is mixed in unevenly, as the lines will have uneven shading.

Plus, sunscreens that don't have a consistent blend of UV protection are the worst, as they can leave you with unevenly colored burns.

When making eyeliner, it is important to disperse the coloring pigment evenly and maintain that consistency throughout the application. This allows you to draw a clean line without uneven coloring. Also, to make a sunscreen that properly blocks UV rays, the UV protection agent must be dispersed and mixed evenly.

Using ethylhexyl palmitate reduces the chance of mottled or uneven coloring.

About sunscreen: Why you should choose a sunscreen that is free of UV absorbers

Attaching powdered ingredients

It helps powders stick together and prevents them from scattering, which is why it is also used in pressed powders and foundations.

Low cost

There are many types of synthetic oils used in cosmetics. Among them, ethylhexyl palmitate is an inexpensive synthetic oil. Therefore, it is highly valued in cleansing oils and cleansing balms, which contain a large amount of oil, in order to reduce costs.

What causes inner dryness?

Unfortunately, ethylhexyl palmitate does not have any moisturizing properties for the skin.

As mentioned above, it does have the effect of covering the surface of the skin like silicone and preventing moisture from escaping. However, it does not actually moisturize the skin. It only temporarily improves the texture of the skin surface.

Therefore, if you continue to apply it to already dry skin for a long period of time, it may worsen your inner dryness.

By the way, there is almost no risk of skin allergies. It's not a skin-beautifying ingredient that will make your skin beautiful. Also , you may need to be a little careful about irritation to the skin.

Ethylhexyl palmitate clogs pores

There is a study that looked into ingredients that tend to clog pores. Although it is an old study from 1989 , it is the basis for the "comedogenic index," which is still widely known today.

In this study, ethylhexyl palmitate had a comedogenic index of 4 out of 5, indicating that it is an ingredient that has a tendency to clog pores.

Because it has a larger molecular size than human sebum, it may have the potential to clog pores and cause breakouts.

For those who are concerned about pores, read this: Must-read for those who are concerned about pores! Recommended oils for each skin type