Cetyl Ricinoleate
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: 10401-55-5, Ricinoleic acid, Hexadecyl ester, JEECHEM CER, TEGOSOFT CR, CETINOL R, AEC CETYL RICINOLEATE
Synthetic
Emollient
Skin Conditioner
Plant Oil
Clean
9-Octadecenoic acid, 12-hydroxy-, hexadecyl ester [R-(Z)]-
Effective at 8.0%
Formula
C34H66O3
Mol. Weight
522.90
CAS #
10401-55-5
Form
Liquid
Functions
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.
Locks In Moisture
Traditional Use
A naturally-derived emollient created by esterifying cetyl alcohol with ricinoleic acid from castor oil. Developed in the 20th century as an alternative to pure plant oils for more stable cosmetic 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
0.002%
16.0%
0%22%
Reported use
CIR reported use: 0.002-11 | 0.01-11 | 0.3-16 | 0.1-10
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-assessed4 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR