Final Report On the Safety Assessment of Cetyl Esters1

Abstract

Cetyl Esters is a synthetic wax composed of a mixture of esters ofsaturated fatty acids and fatty alcohols with carbon chain lengths between 14 and 18. Cetyl Esters is currently used as a skin conditioning agent-emollient in over 200 cosmetic formulations at concentrations of up to 7%. The esters that are found in Cetyl Esters include Cetyl Palmitate, Cetyl Stearate, Myristyl Myristate, Myristyl Stearate, Cetyl Myristate, and Stearyl Stearate. Safety data on four of these (Cetyl Palmitate, Cetyl Stearate, Myristyl Myristate, and Myristyl Stearate) have previously been reviewed and are summarized in this report; overall, the data show no systemic toxicity, no sensitization or photosensitization, and little irritation. Because of the structural similarity of Cetyl Myristate and Stearyl Stearate to these four ingredients, it is expected that they would behave in a similarly nontoxic manner. Therefore, it was concluded that Cetyl Esters (as a mixture of all six ingredients) is safe as used in cosmetics.