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Octyldodecanol

What Octyldodecanol is & what it does

A fatty alcohol used as an emollient and solvent that softens skin and helps dissolve UV filters and pigments. It gives a smooth, slightly rich glide.

What is Octyldodecanol and what does it do in sunscreen?

Octyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol that works as an emollient and a solvent. As an emollient it softens skin and gives a smooth, slightly rich glide, and as a solvent it helps dissolve UV filters and pigments so they spread evenly in the formula. In a sunscreen it is especially handy for keeping solid filters and tints fully dissolved, which improves both feel and protection.

Is Octyldodecanol safe?

Yes. Octyldodecanol is a long-standing cosmetic emollient that is well tolerated and is not a common cause of irritation. Fatty alcohols like this one are the soft, waxy kind and behave very differently from drying alcohols such as alcohol denat. There is no general safety concern for topical use.

Is Octyldodecanol a drying alcohol?

No. Although the name ends in "alcohol," Octyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol, which is moisturizing and softening rather than drying. It is the opposite of the volatile, potentially drying alcohols like ethanol or alcohol denat. On the skin it acts more like a lightweight emollient oil.

Does Octyldodecanol clog pores?

Generally no. Octyldodecanol is not flagged as comedogenic and is considered a low-risk emollient for most skin types. As with any oily ingredient, very acne-prone skin can react differently, but it is not a typical pore-clogging culprit. Richer plant oils and butters in a formula are more likely to matter.

What is Octyldodecanol on an ingredient list (INCI)?

"Octyldodecanol" is the INCI name printed on the label. It is a branched fatty alcohol that stays liquid at room temperature, which is why it feels like a light oil rather than a wax. It can appear in the middle of an ingredient list, near the other emollients and the filters it helps dissolve.

Sunscreens with Octyldodecanol

We rate 459 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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