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Behenyl Alcohol

INCI · Behenyl Alcohol · also Docosanol

Revelika safety grade

Overview

A long-chain fatty alcohol, waxy and solid at room temperature, used to thicken creams and hold oil and water together. Despite the word alcohol it behaves nothing like ethanol: it softens rather than dries, in the same family as cetyl and stearyl alcohol.

Who it's for

Rich creams, balms and hair conditioners, including dry and mature skin.

Cautions

Its richness can feel heavy or occlusive on very oily skin; fatty alcohols are an uncommon but documented contact allergen.

Suitability
Suits skin type
Dry Oily Combination Sensitive Acne-prone Mature Normal
Targets
Concentration
Concentration0 – 10%
Effective from
—
Max safe
—
In the glossary
Frequently asked
What does Behenyl Alcohol do in skincare?

A long-chain fatty alcohol, waxy and solid at room temperature, used to thicken creams and hold oil and water together. Despite the word alcohol it behaves nothing like ethanol: it softens rather than dries, in the same family as cetyl and stearyl alcohol.

Is Behenyl Alcohol considered safe for skin?

Its richness can feel heavy or occlusive on very oily skin; fatty alcohols are an uncommon but documented contact allergen.

RRevelika

A science-forward beauty ingredient encyclopedia. Every entry is written from published research and graded conservatively before it publishes.

Editorial standard

Content is educational, not medical advice. When evidence is uncertain we say so — and we default to caution on pregnancy safety.

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