Cetearyl Olivate
Olive-derived emulsifier · INCI: Cetearyl Olivate
Reviewed by Elysiana Aguilar, master esthetician
How we read it
Not a pore-clogger. Considered safe for acne-prone skin.
Is Cetearyl Olivate comedogenic?
No. Cetearyl Olivate isn't considered pore-clogging, and we read it as safe to use on acne-prone skin. That doesn't make it right for everyone, but congestion isn't the thing to watch for with it.
Why we read it this way
Cetearyl olivate is a waxy ester formed when cetearyl alcohol is bonded to fatty acids from olive oil. It works as an emulsifier, holding oil and water together and giving a cream a light, silky feel. We read it as not pore-clogging.
The nuance
We flag olive oil, so an olive-derived name on a label raises a fair question. This is not the oil. The oil's fatty acids have been reacted into a new ingredient that works as an emulsifier, and a formula needs only a little.
Where it shows up
It is a favorite in natural and plant-based formulas, including face creams, body lotions, baby care and cream sunscreens, and is usually listed beside sorbitan olivate.
Related ingredients
One ingredient rarely tells the whole story. The acne ingredient checker reads everything in a product at once, and there is more on what comedogenic means. Also in the guides: The types of acne lesions.