Cetearyl Alcohol

Cetearyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol: the European CosIng database records it as a mixture of alcohols with chains of sixteen to eighteen carbon atoms. It does not appear among prohibited or restricted substances in the annexes to Regulation (EC) 1223/2009. Of the seven functions CosIng assigns it, only one describes an action on skin: emollient.

On a label, alcohol covers very different substances. The rest of this page explains the distinctions.

Two fatty alcohols behind one name

CosIng records the glossary name Cetearyl Alcohol, while its European Pharmacopoeia name field gives alcohol cetylicus et stearylicus. The Latin spells out what the INCI name compresses. The conjunction et matters: there are two substances, cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol.

Each substance has its own entry in the same glossary. Cetyl Alcohol has the chemical name hexadecan-1-ol, sixteen carbon atoms, CAS number 36653-82-4 and the Pharmacopoeia name alcohol cetylicus. Stearyl Alcohol has octadecan-1-ol, eighteen carbon atoms, CAS number 112-92-5 and alcohol stearylicus. CosIng's chemical description of Cetearyl Alcohol encompasses both: 'Alcohols, C16-18'.

Another European document describes it in different words. The European medicines agency's Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products summary report, EMEA/MRL/448/98-FINAL of June 1998, calls it a mixture of saturated fatty alcohols, names the two separately, gives the same CAS numbers recorded in CosIng and notes its use alongside other excipients as an emulsifying agent in cosmetics and topical human medicines.

How it differs from ethanol

The alcohol that usually prompts the question appears as Alcohol or Alcohol Denat.. Both entries carry CAS number 64-17-5, and the first gives the chemical name ethanol: a molecule with two carbon atoms.

The clearest comparison is between their function lists. For Alcohol and Alcohol Denat., the database lists antifoaming, antimicrobial within the product, astringent, fragrance, solvent and viscosity controlling. For Cetearyl Alcohol, it lists emollient, emulsifying, emulsion stabilising, foam boosting, opacifying, surfactant cleansing and viscosity controlling. The lists contain six and seven functions respectively, with only viscosity controlling in common. Sharing a word on the label does not make their roles interchangeable.

Seven functions for one entry

Four of the seven concern product structure: as an emulsifier, it helps combine water and oils that would otherwise separate; as a stabiliser, it helps prevent separation over time; as a viscosity controller, it affects how thick or fluid the product is; as an opacifier, it makes it less transparent.

Two concern cleansing: foam boosting makes foam more abundant and persistent, while surfactant cleansing helps water carry away sebum and impurities during rinsing.

Only one describes an action on skin. As an emollient, it softens the surface and makes it feel smoother. Seven functions in one entry describe an ingredient that performs different jobs in different formulas.

Does it dry out hair?

The question often accompanies the name, and the relevant data are those listed above. The seven functions concern product structure, cleansing and the skin surface. CosIng also has a hair-conditioning function, assigned to other entries, including Cetearyl Olivate.

How drying a formula feels depends on all its ingredients and their quantities, which the label does not disclose. Individual tolerance remains a separate variable.

Where to find it on the label

It appears as Cetearyl Alcohol. Nearby, you may find its components, Cetyl Alcohol and Stearyl Alcohol, and names of substances derived from it: Ceteareth-20, described by CosIng as ethoxylated C16-18 alcohols, and Cetearyl Olivate, an ester of Cetearyl Alcohol and olive-oil fatty acids. Each has its own entry and function list.

Above 1%, ingredients follow descending order by weight; below that threshold, the order is flexible. Article 19 and its practical implications are explained in how to read an INCI list. For a whole label, use the INCI analyser.

Sources: CosIng, European Commission, entries for Cetearyl Alcohol (CAS 67762-27-0 / 8005-44-5, EC 267-008-6), Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Alcohol, Alcohol Denat., Ceteareth-20 and Cetearyl Olivate, consulted on 8 August 2026. Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Article 19. European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products, now the European Medicines Agency, Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products, Cetostearyl Alcohol Summary Report, EMEA/MRL/448/98-FINAL, June 1998.