Ingredient · dataset v56
Cetearyl Isononanoate and fungal acne
May trigger · Limited evidence
Why it's a potential trigger
Cetearyl alcohol esterified to a below-range C9 acid; under the alcohol-inheritance rule it takes the trigger-1 status of its cetearyl half, never looser.
Flipped neutral-0 to trigger-1 in v28 (was judged on the acid half alone).
Evidence strength
Limited evidence (1/3)
Function
Fatty ester
Fatty esters: split by the yeast’s enzymes into edible fats.
Also listed as
Cetearyl Nonanoate
Products without this ingredient
- Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser
- LANE & CO. Baby Hair Gel 4 fl oz
- bareMinerals Original Loose Powder Foundation SPF 15
- Plant Guru Indian Healing Clay 1 lb
- Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water with Salicylic Acid 13.5 fl oz
- COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum 20 ml
Related fatty ester
- Ascorbyl Palmitate — May trigger · Moderate evidence
- Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate — May trigger · Moderate evidence
- Behenyl Acrylate — May trigger · Limited evidence
- Behenyl Behenate — May trigger · Limited evidence
- Bis-Octyldodecyl Dimer Dilinoleate/Propanediol Copolymer — May trigger · Moderate evidence
- Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate — No known trigger
- Butyloctyl Salicylate — May trigger · Limited evidence
- C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate — May trigger · Limited evidence
Sources
EU CosIng database — search the INCI name
Last reviewed: 2026-10-13 (dataset v56).
Questions
Does Cetearyl Isononanoate trigger fungal acne?
We flag it as a potential trigger (limited evidence). That means it belongs to a class the Malassezia yeast is known to feed on — not that every product with it will cause a flare. Concentration, formulation and individual skin chemistry matter.
Does Cetearyl Isononanoate feed Malassezia?
Yes: we flag Cetearyl Isononanoate as a potential trigger (limited evidence). It belongs to a class Malassezia is known to feed on — not a claim that every product with it causes a flare. Concentration, formulation and individual skin chemistry matter.
How confident is this call?
Limited evidence: Cetearyl alcohol esterified to a below-range C9 acid; under the alcohol-inheritance rule it takes the trigger-1 status of its cetearyl half, never looser.
Is this medical advice?
No. We screen ingredient lists; we never diagnose, treat, or certify products. When in doubt, ask a dermatologist.
Check a full list containing Cetearyl Isononanoate →
Not medical advice: we screen ingredient lists for potential triggers — we never diagnose, treat, or certify products. Dataset v56.