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C20-22 Alcohols

What C20-22 Alcohols is & what it does

C20-22 Alcohols is a blend of long-chain fatty alcohols (such as arachidyl and behenyl alcohol) used as an emollient, thickener and emulsion stabilizer. Despite the word alcohol, these are waxy, moisturizing solids that are nothing like drying ethanol; they soften skin and give creams body. In sunscreen they are frequently paired with C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate to build a smooth, stable texture.

What is C20-22 Alcohols and what does it do in sunscreen?

C20-22 Alcohols is a mix of fatty alcohols with long carbon chains, used as an emollient and thickener. In a sunscreen it softens skin, adds body to a cream or lotion, and helps keep the oil and water phases stable. It is often used alongside its partner emulsifier C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate to create a smooth, well-structured base.

Is C20-22 Alcohols drying like alcohol?

No. Despite the name, fatty alcohols like C20-22 Alcohols are moisturizing and softening, the opposite of drying ethanol or alcohol denat. They are waxy solids that condition the skin and give creams their texture, so the word alcohol on the label here is nothing to worry about.

Is C20-22 Alcohols safe?

Yes. Fatty alcohols are widely used, well-tolerated emollients that work on the surface of the skin. C20-22 Alcohols is gentle and non-irritating for most people at the levels used in sunscreen.

Does C20-22 Alcohols clog pores?

Generally no, though it is a heavier fatty alcohol. It is generally low on the comedogenic scale and is used as a texture and conditioning agent rather than a problem oil. A minority of very acne-prone users find heavier fatty alcohols do not suit them, but it is not a common pore-clogger.

Is C20-22 Alcohols natural or synthetic?

It can be either. Fatty alcohols like these are usually made from plant oils such as coconut, palm or rapeseed, and can also be produced synthetically. The plant-derived and synthetic versions behave the same way in a formula.

Sunscreens with C20-22 Alcohols

We rate 144 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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