Cetyl alcohol
Cetyl alcohol is a waxy fatty alcohol that thickens and softens creams and conditioners; it is not a drying alcohol.
- Used in
- Cosmetic ingredient (INCI)
- Role
- Fatty alcohol
- Database entry
- Cetearyl alcohol
In the IngrediLens database, cetyl alcohol is one of the names listed under Cetearyl alcohol, so the app gives it the same allergen and diet flags.
Contains / relevant to
- Acne-prone skin: Ingredients with higher reported comedogenicity.
What to look for on labels
- Cosmetic ingredient lists use INCI names, in descending order of concentration down to 1 %; ingredients below 1 % can follow in any order.
Related
- Cetearyl alcoholCetearyl alcohol is a waxy fatty alcohol used to thicken and soften creams; it is not a drying alcohol.
- Stearyl alcoholStearyl alcohol is a waxy fatty alcohol used to thicken and soften cosmetics; it is not a drying alcohol.
- How to read cosmetic INCI lists for sensitive skinGuide
Sources
Often confused with denatured alcohol. It does not behave the same way on skin.
- IngrediLens ingredient database (names, flags and notes shown on this page)
Label information, not medical advice. This page describes how an ingredient is named and labelled and how IngrediLens flags it; it cannot tell you whether a product is safe for you. Always read the label on the product itself and follow the advice of your doctor, allergist or dermatologist. If someone shows signs of anaphylaxis, use their adrenaline auto-injector if they have one and call emergency services.
Scan labels with IngrediLens
Point your iPhone camera at a food or cosmetic ingredient list and IngrediLens highlights the allergens and ingredients you chose to avoid, including other names like the ones on this page. Free to start, no account, and your data stays on your device.
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