Name

Cetyl Alcohol

Generally safe as used

Description

Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol commonly used in cosmetics and personal care products. It is different from drying alcohols like ethanol or isopropyl alcohol, as it is an emollient and thickening agent that helps to soften the skin and improve the texture of products. Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with the chemical formula C16H34O. It is derived from natural sources like coconut or palm oil but can also be synthetically produced.

Benefits

Used as an emulsifier and conditioning agent.

Considerations

• Skin Irritation At high concentrations cetearyl alcohol can be a skin irritant. However, diluted a cosmetic product, it's a low risk. • Eye Irritation The raw material can cause eye irritation.

Synonyms

Cetyl Alcohol 1-Hexadecanol 1 Hexanecanol Hexadecan-1-ol Hexadecanol Cetanol Palmityl Alcohol Hexadecyl Alcohol n-Hexadecanol n-Cetyl Alcohol Cetylol Ethal Cetylic Alcohol Alcohol C-16 1-Hexadecyl Alcohol Palmitic Alcohol C16 Alcohol

Research Sources

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/2682#section=Toxicity

Summary

Generally safe as used.