Cetyl Alcohol: What It Is, What It Does, and Is It Safe?
When people see "alcohol" on a cream label, many expect the drying kind. Cetyl alcohol is a different thing. Here is what it is, what it does and what the safety reviews found.
What is cetyl alcohol?
Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol (a waxy alcohol made from fatty acids, as explained below). On a label it is written "Cetyl Alcohol," its INCI name (the standard name used on cosmetic ingredient lists).
It is a white, waxy solid that comes as flakes or powder. It is a 16-carbon alcohol, also called 1-hexadecanol, and it does not dissolve in water but does dissolve in oils (CIR, 1988).
Fatty alcohols like cetyl alcohol have been made by hydrogenating fatty acids (adding hydrogen to the fatty acids found in fats and oils) under high heat and pressure (CIR, 1988).
What does cetyl alcohol do in a cream?
Long-chain alcohols like cetyl alcohol work in cosmetics as emollients (ingredients that soften skin), emulsion stabilizers (they help keep the oil and water in a cream from separating) and viscosity control agents (they set how thick a product is) (CIR, 1988).
The CIR report notes that cetyl alcohol in particular is used as an emollient to keep skin from drying and chapping, because it helps hold water (CIR, 1988).
Is cetyl alcohol safe?
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) is the expert panel that reviews the safety of cosmetic ingredients in the U.S. It concluded that cetyl alcohol is safe as a cosmetic ingredient in the present practices of use (CIR, 1988).
In human skin tests of products with up to 8.4 percent cetyl alcohol, there was no sign of irritation or sensitization (an allergic reaction that builds after repeat contact) (CIR, 1988).
Allergy to it is possible but uncommon. A 1988 review reported that about 1 percent of eczema patients are allergic to cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol or a mix of the two. In that study, 11 of 1,374 patients reacted to a patch test of 20 percent cetylstearyl alcohol, and earlier work suggested impurities in commercial batches might be behind some reactions (Hannuksela, 1988).
How to spot cetyl alcohol on a label
Look for "Cetyl Alcohol." Its chemical names are 1-hexadecanol and n-hexadecyl alcohol. A close cousin, cetearyl alcohol, is a mix of mostly cetyl and stearyl alcohols, and is also called cetostearyl alcohol (CIR, 1988).
In the U.S., cosmetic ingredients must be listed in descending order of predominance, so the ingredient with the most is listed first (FDA Cosmetics Labeling Guide).
Cetyl alcohol is on the Corium 21 label. You can see every ingredient on our Corium 21 ingredient list.
Try it in the decoder
Paste any label into our free Ingredient Label Decoder to see what each ingredient does. Curious how a cream differs from a lotion? Read aloe vera cream vs. lotion.
From Corium 21
Corium 21 Aloe Vera Skin Cream has certified organic aloe vera as its first ingredient, plus vitamins A, B3 and E, soluble collagen (a water-loving protein that holds moisture on the skin's surface), green tea, chamomile and ginseng. Trusted since 1994. Family-owned in Oregon.
FAQ
Is cetyl alcohol a drying alcohol?
No. It is a waxy fatty alcohol, used in cosmetics as an emollient that softens skin and helps hold water (CIR, 1988).
Cetyl alcohol vs. cetearyl alcohol: what is the difference?
Cetyl alcohol is a single 16-carbon alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a mix of mostly cetyl and stearyl alcohols. CIR reviewed both in the same report and found both safe as used (CIR, 1988).
Is cetyl alcohol safe for sensitive skin?
Human tests of products with up to 8.4 percent cetyl alcohol showed no irritation or sensitization (CIR, 1988). A small share of people with eczema are allergic to cetyl or stearyl alcohol, about 1 percent in one review(Hannuksela, 1988).