Behenyl Alcohol ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a long-chain fatty alcohol used mainly as a structurant, thickener, and co-emulsifier in creams, lotions, conditioners, and balms. It also adds slip, cushion, and a soft emollient feel without functioning like a drying alcohol.
What does Behenyl Alcohol do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a long-chain fatty alcohol used mainly as a structurant, thickener, and co-emulsifier in creams, lotions, conditioners, and balms. It also adds slip, cushion, and a soft emollient feel without functioning like a drying alcohol.
Is Behenyl Alcohol clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is generally well tolerated, low in sensitization potential, and not a common restricted-list concern. The main distinction is sourcing and processing quality, not routine irritation risk.
Is Behenyl Alcohol sustainable?
This material is commonly derived from plant oils, including rapeseed or palm-linked feedstocks, though petrochemical routes can exist. It is expected to be biodegradable, while palm traceability and certification are the main supply-chain considerations.
Is Behenyl Alcohol COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic when it meets natural-origin sourcing and processing requirements. It aligns reasonably well with Green Chemistry when made from renewable feedstocks, with a favorable biodegradation profile and relatively simple downstream formulation use.
How does Behenyl Alcohol work chemically?
The molecule is a saturated C22 primary aliphatic alcohol, which gives it a high melting point and strong lamellar-structure support in emulsions. Typical use levels are about 0.5% to 5%, it is nonionic and broadly pH-stable, and it is usually melted into the oil phase before emulsification.
Last updated 2026-05-13