Diethylhexyl Malate

AKA: Bis(2-ethylhexyl) malate, Bis(2-ethylhexyl) 2-hydroxybutanedioate, Bis(2-ethylhexyl)malate, NCIOpen2_009931

Synthetic

Emollient

Skin Conditioner

Not Clean

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Formula

C20H38O5

Mol. Weight

358.50

CAS #

56235-92-8

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

Modern synthetic compound developed for cosmetic use as a conditioning and emollient ingredient. Designed to improve skin feel and product spreadability.

EWG

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

Regulatory Agencies

EWG CIR FDA EU COSING Health Canada

Skin Types

●all-skin-types

Best For

Dryness

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe

Yes

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: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR