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The ingredient, explained

Cetearyl Alcohol

A published expert assessment examines cosmetic-use safety.

EmollientEmulsifyingEmulsion stabilisingFoam boostingOpacifyingViscosity controllingSurfactant
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Ingredient guide

What it is and what it does

Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of the fatty alcohols cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. Its cosmetic roles include softening the skin surface, helping emulsions stay mixed and adjusting product thickness.

About this ingredient: CosIng identity and functions via Open Beauty Facts ↗ · European Commission ingredient function definitions ↗ · PubChem: Cetearyl alcohol ↗

Emollient
Helps soften and smooth the skin surface.
Emulsifying
Helps liquids that do not normally mix form a mixture.
Emulsion stabilising
Helps keep an emulsion from separating.
Foam boosting
Changes the amount, texture or stability of foam.
Opacifying
Makes a product less transparent.
Viscosity controlling
Adjusts how thick or fluid a product is.
Surfactant
Changes surface tension to help a product distribute or interact with other materials.

Function definitions: European Commission ingredient function definitions (SCCNFP/0299/00, pages 16 to 20) ↗

Registry functions describe possible formulation roles, not results for a finished product. A dictionary entry is not an approval or a safety assessment.

A closer look

What the research shows

Safety assessment

The report included animal studies and human skin tests and supported the cosmetic uses described.

What this does not tell us

This is a historical safety assessment covering named fatty alcohols. It does not establish performance or rule out individual reactions.

Sources for this summary. DOI 10.3109/10915818809023137 ↗

Research review checked Oct 1, 2026

Bounded review of 3 local candidate records, selected relevant abstracts, and targeted exact-name primary-source searches. Not a systematic review.

Ingredient research is not proof that a product containing this ingredient works.

Read the 1 selected study

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Products containing this ingredient

All 1,271 products ↗

From the Serenfold edit. Linked by the ingredient list, without an efficacy ranking.

Names and identifiers

Registry identity

Alcohols, C16-18

INCI name on ingredient lists
CETEARYL ALCOHOL
CAS registry number
67762-27-0, 8005-44-5
EC number
267-008-6 / -
Other recorded names (1)
  • alcohol cetylicus et stearylicus

Sources for this ingredient record