Cetyl Alcohol

Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol derived from palm oil that is supplied as a white, waxy solid in the form of pellets or flakes.

This ingredient is most commonly used as a co-emulsifier in oil-in-water emulsions. Occasionally, it is blended with stearyl alcohol to create the ingredient known as cetearyl alcohol, which is another excellent co-emulsifier. Because cetyl alcohol helps with stabilizing emulsions, it is also considered an opacifying agent, as all emulsions are opaque.

It is useful as a viscosity controlling agent, as the more that is added to an emulsion, the thicker the emulsion will end up. Cetyl alcohol also affects the final aesthetic of the product, giving it some control over the emolliency, which is often soft and silky feeling on the skin.