No fungal-acne, pore-clogging, fragrance or drying-alcohol flags for Cetyl Stearyl Alcohol in our reference data.
Cetyl Stearyl Alcohol (cetearyl alcohol) is a blend of fatty alcohols used in skincare as an emollient, emulsion stabilizer, and thickening agent to improve texture and consistency. It is widely regarded as safe and well-tolerated in cosmetic formulations.
| Reported effect | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Allergic contact dermatitis | Uncommon | Recognized but infrequent contact allergen, more often reported in patients with chronic leg ulcers or stasis dermatitis exposed to topical products. |
| Skin irritation or redness | Rare | Mild irritation possible in sensitive individuals; generally considered low-irritancy. |
| Cross-reactivity with other fatty alcohols (e.g., cetyl, stearyl alcohol) | Rare | Patch-test sensitized individuals may react to related fatty alcohols. |
Frequencies reflect typical cosmetic use reported in the literature, not a guarantee for your skin.
Peer-reviewed papers on this ingredient, via PubMed.