Phytosteryl Ricinoleate

AKA: Phytosterol Ricinoleate, Plant Sterol Castor Oil Ester

Synthetic

Skin Conditioner

Hair Care

Plant Oil

Not Clean

12-Hydroxy-9-octadecenoic acid, phytosterols ester

Form

Liquid

Functions

Hair Conditioning

A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.

Skin Conditioning

A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.

Locks in moisture

Traditional Use

A modern synthetic ester combining phytosterols with fatty acids from castor oil. Developed for cosmetic formulations as an emollient and skin-conditioning ingredient.

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: CosIng · EWG · CIR