Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate

The Basics On Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate

What is Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate?

Oil-like liquid that functions as an emollient to prevent skin from losing moisture.

What are other names for Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate?

2-ETHYLHEXANOIC ACID, CETYL/STEARYL ESTER, CETEARYL ETHYLHEXANOATE, CETEARYL OCTANOATE, CETOSTEARYL 2-ETHYL HEXANOATE, CETOSTEARYL OCTANOATE, CETYL/STEARYL 2-ETHYLHEXANOATE, and CETYL/STEARYL ESTER 2-ETHYLHEXANOIC ACID

What is Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate used for?

Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate acts as a lubricant on the skin’s surface to give it a soft and smooth appearance and as a hair conditioning ingredient. It also imparts water-repelling characteristics to cosmetics and personal care products, improves “spreadability,” and is used to improve dry skin conditions.

How Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate is classified

Texture Enhancer, Emollients

Recommendations for using Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Limited data suggests no known risk

 

Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate During Pregnancy

What we know about using Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate while pregnant or breastfeeding

Limited information available.

2-Ethylhexanoic acid is a possible metabolite of the alkyl ethylhexanoates; therefore, the reproductive and developmental toxicity of 2-ethylhexanoic acid may be relevant to the safety of alkyl ethylhexanoates. Accordingly, the data on the reproductive and developmental toxicity on 2-ethylhexanoic acid, and the mechanism of action for both, which were included in the original rereview of cetearyl ethylhexanoate, are reiterated here.21-36 2-Ethylhexanoic acid has been shown to be a liver and a developmental toxicant when administered orally at high dose levels to rodents. In developmental studies, it has been postulated that 2-ethylhexanoic acid maternal liver toxicity begins a cascade of effects that includes metallothionein (MT) induction, zinc accumulation in the liver due to MT binding, and a resulting zinc deficiency in the developing embryo. In this model, it is the zinc deficiency in the developing embryo that causes developmental toxicity. Support for this mechanism of action comes from several sources. Animal studies have demonstrated that dietary zinc supplementation reduces the toxic effect and that further zinc deficiency makes 2-ethylhexanoic acid more toxic. In vitro studies using embryo cultures have demonstrated that either zinc deficiency or 2-ethylhexanoic acid-treated sera produced developmental toxicity. Zinc supplementation of either/both sera eliminated the effect. To further examine this question, di-2-ethylhexyl terephthalate (DEHT), which yields 2-ethylhexanoic acid through metabolism, was chosen as a model that would result in 2-ethylhexanoic acid exposures without liver toxicity and MT induction. DEHT is metabolized in the gut and liver to 2-ethylhexanol and terephthalate. Two moles of 2-ethylhexanol are produced per mole of DEHT. Subsequent hydrolysis of 2-ethylhexanol produces 2-ethylhexanoic acid. It can be hypothesized that this pathway to 2- ethylhexanoic acid production from a precursor would not give rise to acute liver toxicity, MT induction, zinc sequestration, and developmental toxicity. In a reproductive and developmental toxicity study, 0, 0.3, 0.6, and 1% DEHT was provided in the feed of rats. The doses were calculated to be 614 to 823 mg/kg/day for males and 783 to1021 mg/kg/day for females. Reproductive toxicity and developmental toxicity were not seen at any dose level. These findings suggest that the process of metabolic conversion of DEHT to 2-ethylhexanol, and subsequent hydrolysis to 2-ethylhexanoic acid, results in a time course of 2-ethylhexanoic acid appearance that allows clearance before sufficient levels can arise to produce acute liver toxicity. While the above study was undertaken to understand 2-ethylhexanoic acid developmental toxicity, the Panel considered that it is relevant to the assessment of alkyl ethylhexanoates. Like DEHT, alkyl ethylhexanoates must undergo conversion to produce 2- ethylhexanoic acid. In addition, alkyl ethylhexanoates, as used in cosmetics, would have to pass through the stratum corneum and the epidermis before entering the bloodstream, further moderating the time course of 2-ethylhexanoic acid appearance in the liver.

General safety info about Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate from CIR

The CIR Expert Panel assessed the safety of 16 alkyl ethylhexanoates for use in cosmetics, concluding that these ingredients are safe in cosmetic formulations in the present practices of use and concentration when formulated to be non-irritating. The alkyl ethylhexanoates primarily function as skin conditioning agents in cosmetics. The highest concentration of use reported for any of the alkyl ethylhexanoates is 77.3% cetyl ethylhexanoate in rinse-off formulations used near the eye, and the highest leave-on use reported is 52% cetyl ethylhexanoate in lipstick formulations. The Panel reviewed available animal and clinical data in making its determination of safety, and when data gaps occurred, similarity in structure, properties, functions and uses of these ingredients and information from previous CIR assessments on constituent alcohols allowed for extrapolation of the available toxicological data to assess the safety of the entire group.

Use this, not that!

Products where you might find Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate

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