Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate

TL;DR. This ingredient is a rich emollient and film-forming ester used to add cushion, gloss, adhesion, and water-resistant feel in lip, balm, cream, and color cosmetic formulas. It can also help structure oils and improve pigment dispersion.

What does Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate do in a cosmetic formula?

This ingredient is a rich emollient and film-forming ester used to add cushion, gloss, adhesion, and water-resistant feel in lip, balm, cream, and color cosmetic formulas. It can also help structure oils and improve pigment dispersion.

Is Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate clean?

From a clean-beauty perspective, it is generally well tolerated and not a common restricted-list ingredient. The main caveats are its highly processed nature and the need to verify residual catalysts, feedstock origin, and allergen profile in finished formulations.

Is Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate sustainable?

This material is typically built from plant-derived fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and sterol fractions, though exact sourcing can vary by supplier. It is expected to be biodegradable over time as an ester-rich lipid material, but its large, branched structure means it is not as straightforward as simple plant oils.

Is Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate COSMOS-approved?

It may fit COSMOS-natural frameworks when the feedstocks and esterification process meet the standard, but it is supplier-dependent rather than automatically aligned. From a Green Chemistry view, it scores better when renewable feedstocks and controlled, low-residue processing are documented.

How does Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate work chemically?

The molecule is a high-molecular-weight, lipophilic ester blend made from dimerized unsaturated fatty acid chemistry combined with sterol and long-chain alcohol segments, which explains its tack, cushion, and film-forming feel. It is oil-soluble, essentially water-insoluble, stable across typical anhydrous and emulsion pH ranges, and is commonly used at low single-digit levels for feel or higher levels in lip and balm systems for structure and gloss.

Last updated 2026-05-13