Ethyl Olivate is an ester derived from olive oil and ethanol. It is commonly used in cosmetics and personal care products for its emollient and moisturizing properties. Ethyl Olivate is known for its ability to enhance the spreadability of products and improve skin hydration, making it a popular ingredient in a range of skincare formulations.

Chemical Composition and Structure

Chemical Formula: C16H30O3
Molecular Weight: 270.42 g/mol
Structure: Ethyl Olivate is an ester formed by the reaction of olive oil (specifically, oleic acid) with ethanol. It features a long hydrocarbon chain with a carboxyl group (–COO–) and an ethyl group (–OCH2CH3) attached to the ester bond.

Physical Properties

Color: Clear to pale yellow liquid.
Odor: Mild, characteristic of olive oil.
Texture: Lightweight, non-greasy.
Solubility: Soluble in oils and alcohol; typically insoluble in water.

Production Process

Esterification: Ethyl Olivate is produced through the esterification process, where olive oil, which contains oleic acid, reacts with ethanol.
Purification: The esterified product is then purified to remove any residual ethanol and by-products, ensuring high quality and effectiveness.
Formulation: The purified Ethyl Olivate is incorporated into cosmetic and personal care formulations.
Quality Control: Rigorous testing is conducted to ensure the purity, stability, and safety of the final product.

Applications

Ethyl Olivate is utilized in a variety of cosmetic and personal care products, including:

Skincare Products: Enhances skin hydration and smoothness; used in moisturizers, creams, and lotions.
Haircare Products: Improves the texture and manageability of hair; included in conditioners and styling products.
Makeup Products: Adds emollient properties and improves the application of makeup.

Safety

Ethyl Olivate is generally considered safe for use in cosmetics and personal care products when used as directed. It is well-tolerated by most skin types and does not pose significant risks at recommended concentrations. However, individuals with specific sensitivities or allergies should perform a patch test before widespread use.

Environmental and Safety Considerations

Sustainable Practices: The production of Ethyl Olivate should adhere to environmentally friendly practices to minimize waste and environmental impact.
Safety Testing: Comprehensive safety assessments should be conducted to confirm the ingredient’s suitability for consumer use.
Regulatory Compliance: Ensure adherence to relevant regulations and guidelines for cosmetic ingredients to ensure consumer safety.

INCI


Skin conditioning agent - Emollient. Emollients have the characteristic of enhancing the skin barrier through a source of exogenous lipids that adhere to the skin, improving barrier properties by filling gaps in intercorneocyte clusters to improve hydration while protecting against inflammation. In practice, they have the ability to create a barrier that prevents transepidermal water loss. Emollients are described as degreasing or refreshing additives that improve the lipid content of the upper layers of the skin by preventing degreasing and drying of the skin. The problem with emollients is that many have a strong lipophilic character and are identified as occlusive ingredients; they are oily and fatty materials that remain on the skin surface and reduce transepidermal water loss. In cosmetics, emollients and moisturisers are often considered synonymous with humectants and occlusives.

Hair conditioning agent. A significant number of ingredients with specific and targeted purposes may co-exist in hair shampoo formulations: cleansers, conditioners, thickeners, matting agents, sequestering agents, fragrances, preservatives, special additives. However, the indispensable ingredients are the cleansers and conditioners as they are necessary and sufficient for hair cleansing and manageability. The others act as commercial and non-essential auxiliaries such as: appearance, fragrance, colouring, etc. Hair conditioning agents have the task of increasing shine, manageability and volume, and reducing static electricity, especially after treatments such as colouring, ironing, waving, drying and brushing. They are, in practice, dispersants that may contain cationic surfactants, thickeners, emollients, polymers. The typology of hair conditioning agents includes: intensive conditioners, instant conditioners, thickening conditioners, drying conditioners. They can perform their task generally accompanied by other different ingredients.
Synonyms:

CAS: 92044-99-0, 85049-36-1 EC number 295-379-4