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Lauryl Alcohol

What Lauryl Alcohol is & what it does

Lauryl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol derived from coconut or palm oil, with a 12-carbon chain. In skincare and sunscreen formulas it works mainly as an emollient and as a building block for milder cleansing surfactants and emulsifiers, helping bind oil and water phases. Unlike drying short-chain alcohols, fatty alcohols like this one are generally non-irritating and lend a smooth, conditioned feel to creams and lotions.

Is Lauryl Alcohol safe?

Lauryl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol that is widely used in cosmetics and is generally regarded as safe at the levels found in skincare. Unlike drying alcohols such as ethanol, fatty alcohols are mild and typically well tolerated. As with any ingredient, sensitive skin may occasionally react, so patch testing is reasonable.

Is Lauryl Alcohol comedogenic?

Lauryl Alcohol has a low to moderate comedogenic rating in some reference sources, though formulated levels are usually low. Most people do not experience clogged pores from it, but those very prone to breakouts may prefer to monitor how their skin responds. Overall pore-clogging potential depends on the full formula, not one ingredient alone.

Is Lauryl Alcohol natural or synthetic?

Lauryl Alcohol can be derived from natural sources or made synthetically. It is commonly produced from coconut or palm oil, but it can also be manufactured from petrochemical feedstocks. The resulting molecule is the same regardless of source.

Sunscreens with Lauryl Alcohol

We rate 35 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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