Description

Cetyl palmitate is a fatty ester that’s made from cetyl alcohol and palmitic acid. It’s a white waxy solid that’s the main ingredient in spermaceti, which is a wax found in the skulls of sperm whales. Cetyl palmitate is used in cosmetic products to provide consistency. It was originally developed as a substitute for spermaceti, which is now forbidden to exploit. In cosmetics, it has an emollient function, as it is able to form a lipid film over the skin which reduces water loss from the stratum corneum. It is characterized by a dry touch and its ability to improve the texture and stability of emulsions.