What it is
Tetradecene is a fourteen-carbon unsaturated hydrocarbon. In cosmetics it can appear as a residual or carrier component within solvent and emollient blends and is more commonly known as a feedstock used to make other ingredients such as olefin sulfonates and longer-chain emollients. When present in a finished sun-care formula it contributes to the oil phase and spreadability.
Safety & warnings
As a simple hydrocarbon used at low levels, tetradecene is generally considered low-irritation for cosmetic use. It is not a recognized fragrance allergen. Heavy hydrocarbon oils can be a concern for acne-prone skin, but tetradecene is typically present only as a minor component rather than as a primary emollient.
Origin & sourcing
Synthetic; produced industrially from petrochemical feedstocks, though related olefins can also be made from other carbon sources.
Questions everyone asks
What is tetradecene used for in cosmetics?
It serves as part of solvent and emollient systems and is also a chemical building block for making other cosmetic ingredients.
Is tetradecene natural or synthetic?
It is a synthetic hydrocarbon, most often produced from petrochemical sources.