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Cetyl Alcohol

Fatty alcohol

Well toleratedEmollientemollientemulsion stabiliserthickener

No meaningful concern for most people; irritation is possible but rare.

Also written as: Hexadecan-1-ol · Palmityl alcohol

What it is

Cetyl alcohol is a 16-carbon fatty alcohol, solid and waxy at room temperature, usually derived from coconut or palm oil. Formulators use it to thicken emulsions, stabilise them and leave a smooth, cushioned finish; it has no relationship to the volatile alcohols that can dry skin.

What it does well

  • Adds body to a cream and leaves skin feeling soft

    It is one of the most established emollient thickeners in cosmetic formulation, valued for a non-greasy, cushioned after-feel.

    Strong evidence

Worth knowing

  • Rare contact allergy, mainly reported with medicated ointments

    Positive patch tests to cetyl alcohol occur but are uncommon, and usually in patients with damaged skin using topical medicines long term.

    Matters most toPeople with chronic eczema or a history of reacting to ointment bases.

Where the EU stands

No specific restriction

No EU restriction on use or concentration in cosmetics.

Sources (1)

Every link goes to the original: a journal, a PubMed record or an EU document.

  1. [1]
    Seven cases of contact dermatitis due to stearyl alcohol contained in topical medications

    The Journal of Dermatology · 2022 · doi:10.1111/1346-8138.16325

    Patients allergic to stearyl alcohol in topical medicines sometimes also reacted to cetyl alcohol, confirming both as occasional but genuine allergens.

Masks that contain Cetyl Alcohol