cetyl alcohol
Cosmetic fatty alcohol
Cetyl alcohol is a waxy, white solid used in cosmetics and skincare as an emollient and thickening agent.
Despite the name, it doesn't dry skin like drinking alcohol would—it's a fatty alcohol derived from fats and oils, commonly found in lotions, creams, and conditioners to create smooth texture: The moisturizer contains cetyl alcohol for better spreadability.
Combines immiscible liquids
- thickenerSubstance adding viscosity
- opacifierAdditive reducing transparency
- stabilizerThing ensuring steadiness
- emollientSubstance that softens skin
conditioning · cream · lotion · skincare · formulation · personal care · ointment · hair conditioner
Adding water to skin
- hydratingSupplying with fluid
- softeningBecoming less firm
- smoothingReducing irregularities systematically
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
emollient · absorption · silky · velvety · supple · protective · soothing · gentle
Thoroughly soaked through
- hydrophobicRepels aqueous substances
- lipophilicAttracted to fatty substances
- melting pointLiquefaction threshold temperature
- carbon chainBonded atoms in organic molecules
nonionic · surfactant · saponification · hydrogenation · palm oil · coconut oil · spermaceti · synthesis
Friction-reducing substance
- plasticizerAdditive increasing material pliability
- polishSmooth by rubbing
- detergentChemical cleaning agent
- antifoamAgent reducing foam
emulsifier
Combines immiscible liquids
- thickenerSubstance adding viscosity
- opacifierAdditive reducing transparency
- stabilizerThing ensuring steadiness
emollient · conditioning · cream · lotion · skincare · formulation · personal care · ointment · hair conditioner · lip balm
moisturizing
Adding water to skin
- hydratingSupplying with fluid
- softeningBecoming less firm
- smoothingReducing irregularities systematically
barrier · emollient · absorption · silky · velvety · supple · protective · soothing · gentle · hypoallergenic
saturated
Thoroughly soaked through
- hydrophobicRepels aqueous substances
- lipophilicAttracted to fatty substances
- melting pointLiquefaction threshold temperature
carbon chain · nonionic · surfactant · saponification · hydrogenation · palm oil · coconut oil · spermaceti · synthesis · distillation
lubricant
Friction-reducing substance
- plasticizerAdditive increasing material pliability
- polishSmooth by rubbing
- detergentChemical cleaning agent
- Cosmetic Ingredientshyaluronic acid, retinol, niacinamide, glycerin, dimethicone
- alcoholsmethanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, pentanol
- fatty alcohols
- skincarecream, lotion, moisturizer, facial, serum
- palm oilpalm oil, oil palm, palm fruit, palm kernel, oil palms
- excipientslactose, starch, talc, mannitol, PVP