Is cetearyl alcohol a type of ethanol?

Cetearyl alcohol in cosmetics and hair care products

You may see cetearyl alcohol listed as an ingredient in any skin care or hair care product.

Since the name contains the word "alcohol," some people may think that it is the same as ethanol, which is said to have a strong stimulant effect.

However, cetearyl alcohol is actually a different substance from ethanol. It is considered a safe cosmetic ingredient that is less likely to cause dryness or irritation.

In this article, we will carefully explain why cetearyl alcohol is used in cosmetics.

About ethanol: Should people with sensitive skin avoid it?

What is Cetearyl Alcohol?

Cetearyl alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol. It appears as a white waxy solid. It is made by mixing substances called cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol.

They are found naturally in plants such as palm and animals, and also synthetically produced.

It is soluble in oil and alcohol, but insoluble in water.

What does cetearyl alcohol do?

Cetyl alcohol has the ability to stabilize oil and water mixtures.

In other words, it prevents the cream, which is a mixture of oil and liquid, from separating. In cosmetics, this is called an "emulsifier," and cetearyl alcohol is one such emulsifier.

It also helps thicken the product and improves foaming.

In addition, it is expected to have the effect of trapping moisture on the skin surface. This is a moisturizing effect known as the " emollient effect ." It keeps moisture in the skin and hair and makes them soft.

It's in these cosmetics

Cetearyl alcohol, which has various properties and functions, is used in a wide range of cosmetics, including:

• Lotion or emulsion
• Moisturizing cream
• Sunscreen
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Hair removal cream
• Hair styling products
• Hair straightening cream
• Hair dye
• mascara

It is formulated to make cosmetics smoother, richer and more foamy.

Safety of Cetearyl Alcohol

You may have heard that alcohol in cosmetics is highly irritating and should be avoided.

However, cetearyl alcohol is an alcohol with completely different properties from ethanol or rubbing alcohol. It does not dry out quickly, and is not said to have the associated irritation.

The American CIR is a global organization that evaluates the safety of cosmetic ingredients. In 1988, CIR rated cetearyl alcohol as "safe." It was subsequently reassessed in 2005 and was also deemed safe.

The American EWG also rated it as highly safe.

An older study from 1997 also found that the risk of developing allergic dermatitis from emulsifiers is low, but there were five cases of the condition in the study.

However, upon closer inspection, it turns out that all five of these people had previously had allergic reactions to other ingredients, meaning that people who have previously had allergic reactions to cosmetics may have a chance of having a skin reaction to cetearyl alcohol.

People who are prone to rashes may need to be a little careful.

What are "alcohol-free" cosmetics?

There are many other fatty alcohols used in cosmetics besides cetearyl alcohol.

• Cetyl alcohol (Cetyl alcohol)
• Lanolin alcohol
• Oleyl alcohol
• Stearyl alcohol

Although the name includes the word "alcohol," these are all fatty alcohols that are different from ethanol, which is why they are also included in cosmetics labeled "alcohol-free" or "alcohol-free."

In other words, "alcohol-free" means that it does not contain ethanol.

By the way, while fatty alcohols are generally considered safe, there are some types that are a bit concerning.

Cetyl alcohol

One of the ingredients that was previously designated for labeling in Japan. In other words, even when it was no longer necessary to list all ingredients, it was still required to list them due to the risk of skin irritation and allergies. The full ingredient list is listed as cetanol.

Lanolin alcohol

The American Contact Dermatitis Society selects allergens for its "Allergy Awards." Lanolin is a fatty alcohol that was selected as the 2023 Allergy Award winner.

Once you know a little about the ingredients, you'll be able to choose cosmetics that suit your skin.

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