C14-22 Alcohols ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a waxy structurant and co-emulsifier used to thicken creams, stabilize emulsions, and improve slip and cushion on skin or hair.
What does C14-22 Alcohols do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a waxy structurant and co-emulsifier used to thicken creams, stabilize emulsions, and improve slip and cushion on skin or hair.
Is C14-22 Alcohols clean?
It is generally well tolerated, with low irritation and sensitization potential in leave-on and rinse-off formulas. It has little clean-standard friction when sourced and processed to typical cosmetic quality.
Is C14-22 Alcohols sustainable?
This material is commonly derived from plant oils such as coconut, palm, or rapeseed, though petrochemical sourcing is also possible. It is expected to biodegrade readily, with the main sustainability question being traceable, responsibly managed oil-crop sourcing.
Is C14-22 Alcohols COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic when made from accepted natural-origin feedstocks using allowed processing. Its profile fits Green Chemistry reasonably well through renewable feedstock options, biodegradability, and relatively simple conversion chemistry.
How does C14-22 Alcohols work chemically?
This material is a blend of saturated, straight-chain primary alcohol molecules spanning 14 to 22 carbons, which gives it a waxy solid profile and strong lamellar-gel structuring behavior in emulsions. Typical use is about 1 to 5% as a thickener or co-emulsifier, and it is broadly stable across normal cosmetic pH ranges when melted into the oil phase during processing.
Last updated 2026-05-13