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Cetearyl and fatty alcohols

AllowedReviewed September 18, 2026

Cetyl Alcohol · Cetearyl Alcohol · Stearyl Alcohol · Behenyl Alcohol · Myristyl Alcohol

Waxy solids that thicken creams and help oil and water stay mixed. Chemically alcohols; behaviourally the opposite of drying.

What it does

Thickeners & film, Emollient & barrier

Our take

Constantly confused with alcohol denat. by people avoiding "alcohol" on a label. These are emollients. Myristyl alcohol and cetyl acetate specifically do appear on the pore-clogging lists, but cetyl and cetearyl are used in barrier-repair creams for good reason.

Suitable from

Young adult, 20+ · Middle aged, 40+

Best for

Barrier repair · Aging & firmness

Skin types

Any skin · Dry

Can it clog pores

Low risk. It is not on the acne clinics' pore-clogging lists. This flag is for the face only, it does not apply to body, hair or home care.