Behenyl Olivate
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: Docosyl olivate, Behenyl olive oil ester
Synthetic
Occlusive
Emulsifier
Skin Conditioner
Plant Oil
Clean
Behenyl Olivate is the ester of behenyl alcohol and Olive Acid
Effective at 2.7%
Form
Oil
Functions
Emulsion Stabilising
Forces oil and water to stay mixed instead of separating into layers. The unsung hero holding your lotion together.
Film Forming
Creates a physical seal on skin to lock moisture in and keep irritants out. The "slugging" ingredient — barrier protection.
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Viscosity Controlling
Locks in moisture
Traditional Use
A modern ester derived from behenic acid (found in plant oils like rapeseed) and olive oil. Developed as a conditioning and emollient agent in 20th-century cosmetics to provide slip and softness to skincare and haircare formulations.
EWG
1
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
ewg-1
medical-approval
pregnancy-nursing-safe
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
0.4%
5.0%
0%7%
Reported use
CIR reported use: 0.4-5
Regulatory Agencies
Skin Types
●all-skin-types, gentle
Best For
Dryness
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewednone on file
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed2 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR