CETYL ALCOHOL

📋 Quick facts

Description: CETYL ALCOHOL — fatty alcohol — emollient, thickener, emulsion stabilizer (not drying like ethanol).

All Functions: fatty alcohol — emollient, thickener, emulsion stabilizer (not drying like ethanol)

Quick Facts:

• Category: emollient
• Comedogenic Rating: 2/5

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Cetyl alcohol is a fatty ingredient used to help structure creams and lotions
• It works with other ingredients to form gel-like networks that give products their texture
• Research suggests it doesn’t penetrate healthy skin in significant amounts
• It may penetrate more readily through damaged or diseased skin

⚗️ Chemical Overview

Hexadecan-1-ol is a long-chain primary fatty alcohol that is hexadecane substituted by a hydroxy group at position 1. It has a role as a flavouring agent, a plant metabolite, a human metabolite and an algal metabolite. It is a hexadecanol and a long-chain primary fatty alcohol. Cetyl alcohol, also known as 1-hexadecanol or n-hexadecyl alcohol, is a 16-C fatty alcohol with the chemical formula CH3(CH2)15OH. It can be produced from the reduction of palmitic acid. Cetyl alcohol is present in a waxy white powder or flake form at room temperature, and is insoluble in water and soluble in alcohols and oils. Discovered by Chevrenl in 1913, cetyl alcohol is one of the oldest known long-chain alcohol. It may be contained in cosmetic and personal care products such as shampoos, creams and lotions. Mainly it is used as an opacifier, emulsifier, and thickening agent that alter the thickness of the liquid, and increase and stabilize the foaming capacity. Due to its water-binding property, cetyl alcohol is commonly used as an emollient that prevents drying and chapping of the skin. According to the FDA Code of Federal Regulations, cetyl alcohol is a safe synthetic fatty acid in food and in the synthesis of food components under the condition that it contain not less than 98 percent of total alcohols and not less than 94 percent of straight chain alcohols. Cetyl alcohol is also listed in the OTC ingredient list as a skin protectant for skin irritations caused by poison ivy, oak, sumac, and insect bites or stings. Cetyl alcohol is reported to be a mild skin or eye irritant. cetyl alcohol has been reported in Camellia sinensis, Angelica gigas, and other organisms with data available.

Source(s): DrugBank, LOTUS – the natural products occurrence database, ChEBI, via PubChem

📊 Comedogenicity

2/5

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

Derived from this ingredient’s irritancy potential and comedogenicity rating against the needs of each skin type — e.g. oily and acne-prone skin are marked down for pore-clogging ingredients, sensitive skin for irritants. A starting heuristic, not a dermatological verdict.

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Cetyl alcohol functions as a structural component in oil-in-water emulsions—the creamy mixtures found in many skincare products. According to research in the *International Journal of Cosmetic Science* (2004), cetyl alcohol works alongside surfactants (cleansing agents) to create what’s called a “swollen lamellar gel network,” which is essentially a microscopic scaffold made of organized layers. This network forms in the water phase of a cream and is responsible for giving the product its semisolid consistency and texture. When other ingredients are added to the formula, they can alter how this network behaves—some ingredients can break it down into looser structures with larger oil droplets, while others reinforce it and create thicker products with smaller droplets.

Regarding skin penetration, research published in *Dermatologische Beruf Umwelt* (1985) examined whether cetyl alcohol actually soaks into skin when applied topically. The findings suggest #1: in oil-in-water emulsions (the most common type in lotions), cetyl alcohol was only detected in the outer skin layer (epidermis) after 1000 minutes of contact, and even then in low concentrations—meaning it’s unlikely to penetrate healthy, intact skin in allergically relevant amounts. However, #2: the same study noted that with diseased or damaged skin, “marked percutaneous absorption” (significant skin penetration) of cetyl alcohol should be expected, though the research doesn’t specify what skin conditions were tested or what the clinical implications might be.

It’s worth noting that these sources focus on cetyl alcohol’s role as a formulation ingredient rather than as an active skincare benefit. The available research is limited in scope and doesn’t address many modern uses or combinations with other actives.

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Ribeiro HM et al. (2004). Structure and rheology of semisolid o/w creams containing cetyl alcohol/non-ionic surfactant mixed emulsifier and different polymers. Int J Cosmet Sci.
• Kuo CH et al. (2012). High yield of wax ester synthesized from cetyl alcohol and octanoic acid by lipozyme RMIM and Novozym 435. Int J Mol Sci.
• Kiec-Swierczynska M et al. (2005). Photoallergic and allergic reaction to 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (sunscreen) and allergy to cetyl alcohol in cosmetic cream. Contact Dermatitis.
• Soga F et al. (2004). Contact dermatitis due to lanoconazole, cetyl alcohol and diethyl sebacate in lanoconazole cream. Contact Dermatitis.
• Zesch A et al. (1985). [Quantitative aspects of the percutaneous uptake of wool wax alcohols (cetyl alcohol) and paraffins (octadecane) from different ointment bases]. Derm Beruf Umwelt.

🧴 Products Containing CETYL ALCOHOL

• Nivea Sun Pflegende Sonnenmilch – LSF 50+ Sehr Hoch
• Nivea Body Beruhigende After Shave Creme for women, Mit Panthenol
• BRYNILD GRUPPEN AS Nivea Men Body & Face Cream 150ml
• Nivea Baby sun Crème solaire très haute protection FPS 50+
• Nivea Creme
• Nivea Nivea lait démaquillant
• Beiersdorf, Hidrofugal Classic Deo Creme
• Nivea Sun protect & moisture SPF 50+
• Henkel, Schwarzkopf 3 Wetter Taft Power Wax
• AgeDefy, P&G, Pantène, Pantène Pro-V, Pantène Pro-V Expert Collection, Pantène Pro-V expert, Procter & Gamble AgeDefy soin après-shampoing
• DR. Hauschka Kosmetik, Dr. Hauschka Lait crème pour le corps lavande bois de santal
• lavera Crème soft
• Lavera, Lavera Naturkosmetik, Laverana Crème Basis Sensitiv
• douglas seathalasso
• Wella Ultimate Repair Mask
• Alverde Körpercreme
• Head & Shoulders Shampooing antipelliculaire + après-shampooing 2 in 1 anti-chute
• Head & Shoulders Shampooing antipelliculaire Instant Relief Apaisement
• Head & Shoulders Shampooing antipelliculaire Instant Apaisement
• Head & Shoulders Shampooing antipelliculaire Lisse & Soyeux (maxi pack)
• Pantene, Procter & Gamble srl Pantene Pro-V 3 in 1 Shampoo + Balsamo + trattamento
• unilever, dove DOVE Crème Hydratante Corps Soie Pot 300ml
• NIVEA CARE – Крем для лица для чувствительной кожи
• Nivea Naturally Good
• Nivea sun Protection Solaire Visage UV FPS30 Hydratante
• V.Sun Catch the sun
• Alterra Hydro Tagescreme Bio-Traube & Bio-Weisser Tee
• Alterra Naturkosmetik Deocreme Bio-Sheabutter
• Skintec Advance Incorporated KERATIN plus Gold
• Hair System by Watsons Micellar Botanical Purifying Shampoo
• L’Oréal, L’Oreal Luxe, The Body Shop Baume mains renfort protecteur
• Roots of strength body shop
• Head & Shoulders Men ultra anti-chute
• ASPIRE BRANDS AS Sunkissed Gradual Tan Light Medium 200ml
• Santé Verte Nature & care permanent colour chocolate
• Delia, Delia Cosmetics Cameleo Blond Moyen 7.0
• Facetheory Glow-C Cream Cleanser
• Procter & Gamble Norge AS Hårkur 3 minute Miracle 225 ml
• Aussie Aussie 3 minute miracle reconstructor
• Nivea Men NIVEA Men Active Energy Hydraterende Dagcrème