Cetearyl Alcohol

Cetearyl Alcohol is a great multi-purpose emollient boosting and thickening fatty alcohol. It is a mixture of cetyl and stearyl fatty alcohols derived from vegetable sources.

It is very effective for adjusting the balance of formula viscosity and thickness in addition to being a gentle emollient that helps to moisturize the skin and hair in both oil-in water and water-in oil emulsions.

It works in a wide variety of skin, hair and body care products, such as creams, lotions, shampoos and conditioners, etc., providing excellent texture and non-gelling viscosity for luxuriously smooth and indulgent products. When used to thicken shampoos, it may decrease the foaming ability, but helps create a richer, creamier lather.

Ingredient Highlights

• Category: Gums & thickeners, additives
• Ingredient Function: Emollience booster, thickener, skin conditioning
• Used in: Lotions, creams, shampoos, conditioners, cleansers, exfoliants, hair styling products, color cosmetics
• Solubility: Slightly soluble in alcohol and oil
• Appearance: White waxy flakes or pastilles
• Odor: Mild soapy odor

Production Information

• Derived From: Palm kernel and/or coconut
• Part(s) Used: Kernel/nut
• Preserved With: No preservative
• Country of Origin: Raw material sourced from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, produced in USA
• Method of Extraction:
• Processing:

Pro Tips

• A multi-tasking additive that helps thicken products in addition to adding moisture for the skin and hair.
• Cetearyl Alcohol helps improve the texture and emolliency of cosmetic products, and leaves a soft, smooth feeling on the skin when added to cosmetic products.
• Can be added to surfactant systems to produce a richer, creamier lather.

Cetearyl Alcohol in DIY Skincare

Emulsifiers and Solubizers in DIY Skincare

This product is vegan.