Cetyl Alcohol: Does the 'Alcohol' in the Name Dry Out Your Skin?
Arin Editorial · how this is made
You often see it on the ingredient list of creams, lotions, and hair products. The word 'alcohol' might make you think it dries out skin. But cetyl alcohol is a waxy fatty alcohol derived from vegetable oils.
What is it and where does it come from?
Cetyl alcohol is a 16-carbon fatty alcohol. At room temperature, it is a white, waxy solid. It was first isolated from sperm whale oil in 1817, and its name comes from 'cetus', the Latin word for whale. Today it is produced mainly from palm and coconut oil.
What does it do in cosmetics?
It has two main roles in creams: thickener and emulsifier. It keeps water and oil from separating and gives the formulation its consistency. In lipsticks, its melting point above body temperature helps the color stay on the lips. It also appears in food as a flavoring agent or decoration; the colored lettering on some candies is made from it.
Is it safe?
The FDA has approved it for both cosmetic and food use. The CIR expert panel has considered it safe for nearly 30 years and reaffirmed that conclusion in a 2005 review. In animal tests, skin irritation was generally not significant; some records mention mild eye irritation, but that comes from different test conditions than actual product use. The risk of skin sensitization is considered low. Still, a small number of people may experience contact eczema.
Approved by the FDA and deemed safe by the CIR panel, it is widely used in cosmetics.
Don't panic if you see it on a label. It is common and safe. If your skin is very sensitive or you have a known allergy to fatty alcohols, trying the product on a small area is enough; no other precaution is needed.