Ethyl Oleate

Ethyl Oleate at a Glance

• Ester of oleic acid
• Skin conditioning, emollient ingredient
• Found naturally or lab-produced
• Clear to pale yellow liquid in its raw form

Ethyl Oleate Description

Ethyl oleate is an ester formed by the condensation of the fatty acid oleic acid and ethanol. In skin care formulas, it serves much the same function as oleic acid – that is, as a skin conditioning, emollient ingredient. This ester does not maintain the irritant or drying properties for skin that pure ethanol (alcohol) has.

Ethyl oleate can be lab-created and is also found naturally in plants such as neem and cinnamon. In its raw form it is a clear to pale yellow liquid. Its fluid nature lends excellent spreadability to cosmetics.

A formal safety assessment of ethyl oleate hasn’t been done; however, oleic acid is considered safe for skin. Usage levels of ethyl oleate in cosmetics have not been firmly established.