Barrier

Cetyl Alcohol

INCI · Cetyl Alcohol

Revelika safety grade

Overview

A fatty alcohol used as an emollient and thickener that softens skin and gives creams a smooth, stable body. Despite the name it is non-drying, unlike simple alcohols.

Who it's for

Most skin types, including dry skin.

Cautions

A texture and emollient ingredient; a rare allergen for very reactive skin.

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 Cetyl Alcohol do in skincare?

A fatty alcohol used as an emollient and thickener that softens skin and gives creams a smooth, stable body. Despite the name it is non-drying, unlike simple alcohols.

Is Cetyl Alcohol considered safe for skin?

A texture and emollient ingredient; a rare allergen for very reactive skin.

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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