Cetyl Behenate

Cetyl Behenate molecular structure
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: Hexadecyl docosanoate, Palmityl behenate, Docosanoic acid, Hexadecyl ester, Hexadecanyl docosanoate, WE(16:0/22:0)
Synthetic
Emollient
Emulsifier
Not Clean
Cetyl Behenate
Formula
C38H76O2
Mol. Weight
565.0
CAS #
42233-11-4
Form
Liquid
Functions
Emollient
Fills in the tiny cracks between skin cells to make everything feel smooth and soft. The "silky finish" ingredient.
Emulsifying
Forces oil and water to stay mixed instead of separating into layers. The unsung hero holding your lotion together.
Anti-Inflammatory
Moisturizing
Boosts Collagen
Traditional Use
Developed in the 20th century as a synthetic wax ester derived from cetyl alcohol and behenic acid. Used in modern cosmetics as a thickening and conditioning agent with no traditional historical use.
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USA✔ permitted
EU⚠ restricted
JAPAN⚠ restricted
CANADA⚠ restricted
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
Dryness
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed1 review →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR