Cetyl Alcohol ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a fatty structurant and emollient that thickens creams, lotions, conditioners, and sticks while improving slip and cushion. It also helps stabilize emulsions by supporting lamellar gel networks with emulsifiers.
What does Cetyl Alcohol do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a fatty structurant and emollient that thickens creams, lotions, conditioners, and sticks while improving slip and cushion. It also helps stabilize emulsions by supporting lamellar gel networks with emulsifiers.
Is Cetyl Alcohol clean?
From a clean beauty perspective, it is generally well tolerated, low in sensitization concern, and not the same as volatile drying alcohols. It has little restricted-list friction when used at typical cosmetic levels.
Is Cetyl Alcohol sustainable?
This material is commonly sourced from plant oils such as coconut or palm, though synthetic routes also exist. It is readily biodegradable, with the main sustainability question being traceable palm-derived feedstock when that supply chain is used.
Is Cetyl Alcohol COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic when sourced and processed according to the standard. Its Green Chemistry fit is strong when plant-derived, with good biodegradability, low irritation profile, and relatively simple fatty-material processing.
How does Cetyl Alcohol work chemically?
The molecule is a saturated C16 long-chain fatty alcohol, a waxy solid with a melting point around 49°C and strong lipophilic character. It is commonly used around 0.5% to 5%, is stable across typical cosmetic pH ranges, and can increase viscosity or improve emulsion stability when paired with nonionic or anionic emulsifiers.
Last updated 2026-05-13