Cetyl-Stearyl Alcohol

Also know as Cetearyl Alcohol and Cetostearyl Alcohol. This is a white, waxy solid in flake form. It is used in ointments, creams, conditioners and lotions as a mild vegetable emulsifier, skin softener, conditioner and thickener. It is a fatty acid chain derived from 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.

Cetyl-Stearyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohols which are produced from saturated fats in nuts and plants. The word alcohol usually brings to mind rubbing alcohol or grain alcohol, both are very drying on the skin. Unlike alcohol, Cetyl-Stearyl Alcohol is a very effective moisturizer, emollient and thickening agent.

Recommended usage: 1.5% to 5.5% of lotion or cream recipe.
May be used in conjunction with emulsifying wax.

HLB = 14.5 - 15