- Comedogenic
- Not rated
- Irritancy
- 0 / 5
- Fungal acne
- Trigger
- Type
- Wax ester
- INCI name
- Cetyl Palmitate
- Also listed as
- Cetyl Esters, Cetyl Myristate, Cetyl Stearate
Who should avoid it?
Suitable for all skin types, including oily and acne-prone skin.
Acne-safe breakdown
Cetyl Palmitate scores 0/5, so it is one of the ingredients acne-prone skin can use freely, though it is still a fungal-acne trigger. If a product containing it breaks you out, look at the other ingredients. Our scanner will flag them.
Fungal-acne safe ingredients list
Print the pore-clogging and fungal-acne cheat sheet →
Frequently asked questions
Is Cetyl Palmitate comedogenic?
Cetyl Palmitate has no standard rating on the comedogenic scale. It is, however, a fungal-acne trigger. A wax made from cetyl alcohol and palmitic acid, used to thicken creams. Do not confuse it with cetyl alcohol: this one is an ester that yeast can split.
Is Cetyl Palmitate safe for fungal acne?
No. Cetyl Palmitate can feed Malassezia yeast, so people with fungal acne usually avoid it.
Does Cetyl Palmitate cause acne?
It is unlikely to. Breakouts usually come from other ingredients in the formula, or from non-cosmetic causes.
What are other names for Cetyl Palmitate?
On labels it can also appear as Cetyl Esters, Cetyl Myristate or Cetyl Stearate.