Alcohols In Cosmetics - The Bad & The Good

Not all alcohols are created equal, & not all are bad. Alcohols come with different names & a variety of effects on the skin. This usually leads to confusion when checking the ingredient listings on cosmetic labels to determine alcohol content.

Stearyl Cetyl Alcohol - This natural skin care ingredient is a fatty alcohol used as an emollient & to help keep other ingredients intact in natural & organic skin care formulations. Fatty alcohols are used in skin care products as thickening agents & emollients. They are not drying or irritating forms of alcohol.

Cetearyl Alcohol is an emulsifying wax produced from a mixture of fatty alcohols made from Cetyl & Stearyl alcohol’s which together form an occlusive film to keep skin moisture from evaporating. They give hair & skin a velvety feeling. This is a long chain alcohol that actually comes in a powder/crystalline form, almost waxy & used to add body & allow for comb ability in hair products as well as help to condition.

SD Alcohol 40, Ethanol, SD Alcohol, Propyl, Porpanol, Isopropyl, Alcohol Denatured mostly found in styling & finishing aids. They help the product evaporate quickly. Mostly associated with dry & frizzy hair.