murphyC16-17 Alkyl Benzoate
AKA: Benzoate Ester
Synthetic
Emollient
Preservative
Solvent
Skin Conditioner
Not Clean
OriginDerived from benzoic acid and linear alcohols (C16-C17 carbon chains) from petroleum or plant sources. Synthesized through esterification, combining benzoic acid with the fatty alcohols under catalytic conditions.
C16-17-alkyl benzoate
Form
Liquid
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
Dryness
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
Functions
Antimicrobial
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
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
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewednone on file
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed1 review →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR