Description
This is a white, waxy solid, in flake or bead form, which is used in ointments, creams, conditioners and lotions as a mild vegetable emulsifier, skin softener, conditioner and thickener. This is a fatty acid chain derived from either coconut or palm oil to which an alcohol has been added. It is a very effective thickener that helps form extremely stable emulsions in water-in-oil (full moisturizer) and oil-in-water (oil-free lotion) preparations.
When one hears ?alcohol? usually what comes to mind are rubbing alcohol or grain alcohol….both are very drying on the skin. Then there are what are known as fatty alcohols which are usually produced from saturated fats in nuts and plants and their effects on the skin are quite different from ethyl alcohol; one of them is Cetyl Stearyl Alcohol. According to the FDA, cosmetic products labeled ?alcohol free? may contain cetyl, stearyl, cetearyl, or lanolin alcohols.
Recommended usage: 1.5% to 5.5% of your lotion or cream recipe. May be used in conjunction with emulsifying wax. Per the manufacturer, this product is 30/70. It?s free of phthalates and does not contain parabens. This product is made in the U.S.
Cetyl Stearyl Alcohol, a/k/a Cetearyl Alcohol, is a plant based product usually extracted from coconut oil. The vendor has provided the following information to assist customers who are confused about cetyl alcohol and cetyl stearyl alcohol.
There will be slight differences between the two. Cetyl Alcohol and Stearyl Alcohol are the two major components of Cetearyl Alcohol. These ingredients are all fatty alcohols and are widely used in cosmetics and personal care products, especially in skin lotions and creams.
Cetyl alcohol helps to form a protective barrier on the skin so water cannot evaporate, thus locking in the moisture.
– Cetyl alcohol: emollient
– Cetearyl Alcohol: emollient, emulsifier
RE: INCI. Cetyl Stearyl Alcohol?s most common INCI is Cetearyl Alcohol, but Cetyl Stearyl Alcohol may also be used as the INCI. We have no other information to provide for this product.