C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a light emollient and slip agent that improves spreadability, softens after-feel, and reduces greasiness in oils, creams, and sunscreens. It also acts as a solvent and dispersing aid for oil-soluble actives and UV filters.
What does C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a light emollient and slip agent that improves spreadability, softens after-feel, and reduces greasiness in oils, creams, and sunscreens. It also acts as a solvent and dispersing aid for oil-soluble actives and UV filters.
Is C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate clean?
It is generally well tolerated, with low reported irritation and sensitization in normal cosmetic use. Clean-standard friction is mainly about synthetic processing and petrochemical content in some grades, not a common restricted-list issue.
Is C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate sustainable?
This material is commonly made from fatty alcohols that may be plant-derived or petrochemical, paired with an aromatic acid source that is often petrochemical. It is expected to biodegrade, but sourcing transparency matters because palm-derived alcohols can carry supply-chain concerns.
Is C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate COSMOS-approved?
This ingredient is not a straightforward COSMOS-organic fit, and COSMOS-natural acceptance depends on documented natural-origin feedstocks and allowed esterification chemistry. It fits Green Chemistry moderately well when renewable fatty alcohols are used and biodegradability is documented, while petrochemical sourcing lowers alignment.
How does C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate work chemically?
The molecule is a mixture of medium-chain fatty alcohol esters built around an aromatic ester group, giving it low polarity, good slip, and strong solvency for lipophilic materials. Typical use ranges are about 1 to 20 percent in creams, oils, and sunscreens, and it is broadly stable in normal cosmetic pH ranges but can hydrolyze under strongly acidic or alkaline conditions.
Last updated 2026-05-13