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Cetearyl Alcohol

Our database includes 7,716 products that contain Cetearyl Alcohol.

Explained

Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.

Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.

Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.

This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.

Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.

You should know

Concerns

Oily Skin
Acne
Fungal Acne
Community Rating
Very Disliked
Comedogenic Rating
2
Irritancy Rating
1

What it does

Emollient Having the quality of softening or soothing the skin.
Emulsifying The act of emulsion: a suspension of small globules of one liquid in a second liquid with which the first will not mix
Emulsion Stabilising Stabiliziing emulsion, making two non-mixable ingredients stable

Alternative names

(C16-C18) Alkyl Alcohol
C1618
C16-18 Alcohols

Prevalence

Somewhat common Percentage of products that contain it
14.7%
Top categories
Moisturizers
Treatments
Sunscreens
Position Predominant list placement
Top 25%

References

CosIng Data

CosIng ID 75132
INCI Name CETEARYL ALCOHOL
EC #  267-008-6 / -
Ph. Eur. Name alcohol cetylicus et stearylicus
All Functions Emollient, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Foam Boosting, Opa CI Fying, Surfactant, Viscosity Controlling