Cetyl alcohol in skincare
A fatty alcohol with a waxy texture.
What is cetyl alcohol?
A fatty alcohol with a waxy texture. On the ingredient list, you can find the name Cetyl Alcohol. The dictionary uses both the common name and the INCI name, so you can compare the explanation with the packaging.
What does cetyl alcohol do for skin and the product?
Softens and gives creams more body and stability.
Emollients make the surface more supple and affect how the product spreads. Lipids do not themselves add water, but some can also help retain moisture.
It does not act like the volatile ethanol in alcohol denat. The word alcohol alone does not tell you its function.
How to read the ingredient list
Look at the product's purpose and overall composition. Position on the list does not tell you the exact concentration used or how your skin will react. One substance can serve several purposes in the same product.
Questions about cetyl alcohol
What does cetyl alcohol do in skincare?
Softens and gives creams more body and stability.
What should I know about cetyl alcohol?
It does not act like the volatile ethanol in alcohol denat. The word alcohol alone does not tell you its function.
Related ingredients
About sources and ingredient names
The European Commission's CosIng database is a reference for cosmetic ingredient names and functions. An entry does not constitute approval of all uses or evidence of a particular product effect.
DermNet: functions of moisturising care · DermNet: cosmetic formulations