CETYALCOHOL ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a fatty structurant and emollient used to thicken creams, stabilize emulsions, and give skin and hair products a smoother, richer feel.
What does CETYALCOHOL do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a fatty structurant and emollient used to thicken creams, stabilize emulsions, and give skin and hair products a smoother, richer feel.
Is CETYALCOHOL clean?
It is generally well tolerated and is not the same as the short-chain drying alcohols shoppers often worry about. Clean standards typically treat it as low-concern, with the main caveat being potential sensitivity in a small subset of users.
Is CETYALCOHOL sustainable?
This material is commonly derived from coconut, palm, or other vegetable oils, and it can also be made from petrochemical feedstocks. It is readily biodegradable, with the main sustainability question usually tied to responsible palm sourcing when palm-derived.
Is CETYALCOHOL COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic frameworks when sourced and processed according to standard requirements. It aligns well with Green Chemistry when plant-derived, biodegradable, and produced through relatively simple fatty alcohol chemistry.
How does CETYALCOHOL work chemically?
The molecule is a saturated straight-chain C16 fatty alcohol with a melting point around 49°C, which helps it build structure and increase viscosity in emulsions. Typical use levels are about 0.5% to 5%, and it is stable across normal cosmetic pH ranges while pairing well with emulsifiers and other fatty materials.
Last updated 2026-05-14