“Cetyl Alcohol?”Here!
Appears in 5 scanned products.
In personal care
A waxy, white solid made of long fatty-alcohol chains, most often derived from coconut or palm oil (or made synthetically from petroleum feedstocks). Despite the name, it has none of the drying, antiseptic qualities of drinking alcohol — it behaves more like a soft wax.
Why it’s used
Formulators use it to thicken lotions and creams, stabilize emulsions so oil and water stay mixed, and give a product a smoother, less greasy feel on skin. It is a workhorse texture ingredient in a huge range of moisturizers and conditioners.
What the evidence says
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel has assessed cetyl alcohol as safe for use in cosmetics. It is a very low-level irritant and only rarely causes contact allergy, mostly in people with already-compromised skin who are exposed to many products.
Context
Used in both rinse-off and leave-on products at concentrations typically well under 10%. Its safety profile does not meaningfully change with exposure route because it is not readily absorbed and is not reactive on skin.
Nothing here makes a claim to grade.
Where it shows up
- Aussie Fast Detangling Conditioner
- Dr. Scholl's Severe Cracked Heel Repair Restoring Balm
- PRO-V BLENDS ROSE WATER SULFATE FREE CONDITIONER
and 2 more products