Cetostearyl Alcohol ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a fatty alcohol used as a thickener, emulsion stabilizer, co-emulsifier, and skin-conditioning emollient in creams, lotions, conditioners, and balms.
What does Cetostearyl Alcohol do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a fatty alcohol used as a thickener, emulsion stabilizer, co-emulsifier, and skin-conditioning emollient in creams, lotions, conditioners, and balms.
Is Cetostearyl Alcohol clean?
It is widely accepted in clean-beauty frameworks because it is generally well tolerated and is not the same category as volatile, drying alcohols. Sensitivity is uncommon, with the main quality questions tied to source traceability and residual impurities from processing.
Is Cetostearyl Alcohol sustainable?
This material is usually sourced from plant oils such as palm, coconut, or rapeseed, though petrochemical routes also exist. It is readily biodegradable, with the main sustainability concern being responsible palm sourcing when palm-derived feedstocks are used.
Is Cetostearyl Alcohol COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic when made from allowed natural-origin feedstocks and processed through accepted chemistry. It fits Green Chemistry well when plant-derived, biodegradable, and manufactured with low-residue processing.
How does Cetostearyl Alcohol work chemically?
The molecule is a waxy blend of long-chain saturated fatty alcohols, mainly C16 and C18 chains, which gives structure by forming lamellar gel networks in emulsions. Typical use levels are about 1% to 10%, it melts around 49°C to 56°C, is nonionic, and remains stable across the normal cosmetic pH range.
Last updated 2026-08-17