Cetearyl Alcohol2 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a fatty structuring agent and emulsion stabilizer that adds body, opacity, and a creamier skin feel. It also supports conditioning in hair care by improving slip and reducing roughness.
What does Cetearyl Alcohol2 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a fatty structuring agent and emulsion stabilizer that adds body, opacity, and a creamier skin feel. It also supports conditioning in hair care by improving slip and reducing roughness.
Is Cetearyl Alcohol2 clean?
It is widely accepted in clean-beauty frameworks, with low irritation potential and no major restricted-list friction. Despite the word alcohol in its category, it behaves as a waxy emollient and structurant rather than a drying solvent.
Is Cetearyl Alcohol2 sustainable?
This material is commonly sourced from plant oils such as palm, coconut, or rapeseed, and it can also be made synthetically. It is readily biodegradable, with the main sustainability question usually tied to responsible palm sourcing and traceability.
Is Cetearyl Alcohol2 COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS natural and organic standards when the feedstock and processing route meet the standard’s criteria. It fits Green Chemistry reasonably well because it can come from renewable oils, is biodegradable, and does not require high-concern solvents in typical production.
How does Cetearyl Alcohol2 work chemically?
The molecule profile is a blend of C16 and C18 saturated long-chain aliphatic alcohols, giving it a waxy solid form and a typical melting range around 49 to 56°C. It is commonly used around 0.5 to 10%, is stable across normal cosmetic pH ranges, and helps form lamellar gel networks with emulsifiers.
Last updated 2026-05-14