Coconut Alcohol

What Coconut Alcohol is & what it does

Coconut Alcohol is a fatty alcohol derived from coconut oil, made up of long-chain alcohols such as those in the C12 to C18 range. In skincare and sunscreen formulas it works as an emollient, thickener, and emulsion stabilizer, helping give a product a smooth, creamy texture. Unlike simple drying alcohols, fatty alcohols of this type are oily and conditioning rather than astringent.

What does Coconut Alcohol do in skincare?

Coconut Alcohol is a fatty alcohol used in skincare as an emollient, thickener, and emulsion stabilizer. It helps give creams and lotions a smooth, creamy texture. Despite its name, it is conditioning rather than drying.

Is Coconut Alcohol safe?

Coconut Alcohol is a fatty alcohol commonly used in cosmetics and is generally regarded as mild and non-irritating. It behaves very differently from drying alcohols like ethanol. As always, individual sensitivities can occur, so a patch test is reasonable for reactive skin.

Is Coconut Alcohol natural or synthetic?

Coconut Alcohol is typically nature-derived, made from the fatty acids of coconut oil. It is processed from a natural raw material rather than being a purely synthetic chemical. Sourcing can vary slightly by supplier.

Sunscreens with Coconut Alcohol

We rate 19 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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