Cetyl Alcohol: for silky slip and a lighter finish
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Cetyl alcohol is cetearyl's lighter, silkier cousin. Same reassurance first: it's a fatty alcohol, so it's softening and conditioning, not drying.
What it does
It thickens and stabilises, but where cetearyl gives rich body, cetyl gives slip — that lovely silky, cushiony glide as a cream goes on, and a softer, less waxy finish. It's a favourite in facial creams and in hair conditioners, where that smooth feel really matters.
How to use it
- Around 1 to 4% of a cream, lotion or conditioner
- Melt it into the oil phase
- Use it alongside a true emulsifier to bind oil and water
Cetyl and cetearyl are often used together — cetearyl for body, cetyl for slip — so it's well worth having both on the shelf. And, as always, water-based products need a preservative.
Steph x