A waxy solid fatty alcohol derived from palm oil. It is most commonly used as a co-emulsifier and affects the final aesthetic of the product, leaving a soft and silky feeling on the skin. Cetyl alcohol is also used as a viscosity controlling agent.
Functions
Emollient,
Emollient
Emollients fill the micro-cracks in the skin and leave it feeling soft and pleasant to the touch. Emollients are often mistakenly perceived as moisturizing ingredients.
Emollient,
Emollient
Emollients fill the micro-cracks in the skin and leave it feeling soft and pleasant to the touch. Emollients are often mistakenly perceived as moisturizing ingredients.
Fragrance,
Fragrance
Fragrance ingredients add scent to a product or hide ('mask') the undesired aroma of other ingredients.
Fragrance,
Fragrance
Fragrance ingredients add scent to a product or hide ('mask') the undesired aroma of other ingredients.
Emulsifying,
Emulsifying
Emulsifying – helps to mix water and oil together.
Emulsifying,
Emulsifying
Emulsifying – helps to mix water and oil together.
Emulsion Stabilizing,
Emulsion Stabilizing
Emulsion stabilizing – increases the stability of a formula.
Emulsion Stabilizing,
Emulsion Stabilizing
Emulsion stabilizing – increases the stability of a formula.
Foaming,
Foaming
Foaming – creates foam of varying densities.
Foaming,
Foaming
Foaming – creates foam of varying densities.
Opacifying,
Opacifying
Opacifying – reflects light and creates opaque products.
Opacifying,
Opacifying
Opacifying – reflects light and creates opaque products.
Viscosity Controlling
Viscosity Controlling
Viscosity controlling – changes the thickness of a product.
Viscosity Controlling
Viscosity Controlling
Viscosity controlling – changes the thickness of a product.
Origin
Botanical,
Botanical
Ingredients derived from plants, mosses, and lichens: extracts, oils, powders, juices and other types of processed plant materials.
Botanical,
Botanical
Ingredients derived from plants, mosses, and lichens: extracts, oils, powders, juices and other types of processed plant materials.
Animal
Animal
Ingredients derived from animals (including birds, fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and insects) or produced by animals (e.g. dairy- and egg-derived ingredients, bee products, silk, pearls, etc.)
Animal
Animal
Ingredients derived from animals (including birds, fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and insects) or produced by animals (e.g. dairy- and egg-derived ingredients, bee products, silk, pearls, etc.)
Overview
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.
