Cetyl Alcohol
TYPE OF INGREDIENT
Opacifier, emulsifier, emollient, stabilizer
COMMONLY FOUND IN
Shampoo, creams, lotions
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CETYL ALCOHOL ?
Cetyl alcohol’s major benefit is as a stabilizer in the creation of cosmeceuticals. However, it reportedly has benefits for treatment of eczema independently.
WHAT IS CETYL ALCOHOL?
Cetyl alcohol is a long-chain alcohol produced from vegetable oils or coconut. It is a waxy white solid at room temperature, where it is used as an emollient, thickener or opacifier.
IS CETYL ALCOHOL SAFE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES AND TONES?
Cetyl alcohol is likely safe for all skin types and tones based on available data. It should be used with caution in patients who have hypersensitivity to cetyl alcohol or its derivatives.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
There is minimal data on contraindications for the topical application of cetyl alcohol. However, there are some reports of contact dermatitis related to cetyl alcohol.
Sources:
Diniz, F., Marques, C., Barbosa, T. C., Martins, D., Nalone, L., Costa, S., … & de Melo Barbosa, R. (2018). dPolymorphism, crystallinity and hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of cetearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol as raw materials for solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN). Asp. Nanotechnol, 1, 52-60.
Zamansky M, Zehavi N, Sintov AC, Ben-Shabat S. The Fundamental Role of Lipids in Polymeric Nanoparticles: Dermal Delivery and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Cannabidiol. Molecules. 2023;28(4):1774. Published 2023 Feb 13. doi:10.3390/molecules28041774
