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Cetearyl Alcohol

What Cetearyl Alcohol is & what it does

A blend of fatty alcohols used as an emollient, thickener, and emulsion stabilizer that gives creams a smooth, cushiony body. Unlike drying alcohols, it softens and conditions skin.

What does Cetearyl Alcohol do?

Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol that works as an emollient, thickener and emulsion stabiliser: it makes creams richer and smoother and keeps the oil and water phases from separating.

Is Cetearyl Alcohol drying like alcohol?

No. Despite the name, it is the opposite. Fatty alcohols like cetearyl alcohol are moisturising and softening, and behave nothing like the drying "alcohol denat." or ethanol you might be picturing.

Is Cetearyl Alcohol safe and does it clog pores?

It is safe and well tolerated for most people, and generally low on the comedogenic scale. A minority of very acne-prone users find heavier fatty alcohols do not suit them, but it is not a common pore-clogger.

Is Cetearyl Alcohol natural?

It is usually nature-derived: a fatty alcohol made from plant oils such as coconut or palm. Despite the word alcohol it is a waxy, moisturising solid, nothing like drying ethanol, and it can also be made synthetically.

Is Cetearyl Alcohol safe to use during pregnancy?

Cetearyl alcohol has no known pregnancy concern. It is a gentle, moisturising fatty alcohol (nothing like drying ethanol) used to give creams their texture.

Sunscreens with Cetearyl Alcohol

We rate 2239 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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