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Stearyl Alcohol
Stearyl AlcoholBarrier
The heavier half of cetearyl alcohol — a waxy softener that gives thick creams their cushion. Not a drying alcohol.
What it does
It’s the other half of the cetearyl alcohol blend, alongside cetyl alcohol. On its own it gives a firmer, cushiony feel and holds thicker creams and butters together. It’s common in body care, hand creams and rich moisturizers, and it isn’t a drying alcohol.
The EU’s ingredient database lists it as an emollient (gives skin a soft, smooth look), an emulsifier (helps oil and water mix) and a thickener (controls how thick the product is).European Commission, CosIng (© European Union, CC BY 4.0) · uses put in plain words by Drop ↗
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