Stearyl Alcohol

What it is

Stearyl alcohol is a solid, wax-like fatty alcohol usually made from vegetable oils. It thickens emulsions, keeps them from separating and gives creams and balm masks a rich, smooth texture; like other fatty alcohols it is chemically unrelated to drying alcohols such as ethanol.

What it does well

• Thickens and stabilises rich cream textures

  It is a standard co-emulsifier and consistency factor, used together with a primary emulsifier to build a stable, creamy base.

  Strong evidence

Worth knowing

• Occasional contact allergy

  A case series confirmed allergic contact dermatitis to stearyl alcohol in seven patients using topical medications, showing the reaction is real but infrequent.

  Matters most toPeople with long-standing eczema or leg ulcers treated with ointments.

Where the EU stands

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

   Stearyl alcohol was confirmed by patch testing as the cause of allergic contact dermatitis in seven patients using topical medicines.