ALL ABOUT IT: Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol that is used to thicken lotions, body butters, and salves and more. It’s a non irritating, non drying alcohol, unlike traditional alcohol, that is excellent for the skin and adding body, viscosity, slip, and velvety texture to formulations. It can also increase the melting point of formulations to keep them stable at higher temperatures. It has emollient properties and absorbs into the skin quickly. If used as a surfactant, it’s nonionic.

INCI: Cetyl Alcohol

USAGE: Thickener with emollient properties

USAGE RATE: 1-40%

SOLUBILITY: Oil soluble

PHASE: Add to oil phase

COLOR & TEXTURE: White beads

AROMA: None

MELTING POINT: 120 F | 49 C

PH: 6

WHY USE IT: It’s very versatile and inexpensive. It adds body, texture, and silkiness to lotions and butters. It can be used to thicken without the heaviness of waxes. It improves the slip which is how a lotion, salve, or butter glides over the skin making a product feel more luxurious. It acts as stabilizer in water based products and sometimes acts as a co-emulsifier even though on its own it’s not an emulsifier. 

BENEFITS: It’s a quick absorbing emollient which helps soften the skin that can be used in all kinds of formulations. It adds body and thickness without feeling heavy or greasy. 

CONS: Made from palm oil which contributes to deforestation. Try and find sustainably sources cetyl alcohol.

BEST FORMULATONS: It’s so versatile, it can be used in almost anything you want to create. 

DO YOU NEED IT: Yes, if you love making formulations, especially the ones you find on Moon & Mage.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Cetyl alcohol is hard to swap out. There’s not much that performs the way it does in formulations. It’s easy to find however, so I recommend having it on hand. 

WHERE TO GET IT: Sustainable Cetyl Alcohol can be found here. I’ve yet to find sustainable cetyl alcohol on Amazon.

HOW MUCH TO BUY: A little goes a long way. I bought 9 ounces and still have plenty even though I use it in a lot of formulations. 

STORAGE AND SHELF LIFE: Up to 2 years if kept cool and dry. 

NOTES: This is one of my favorite ingredients to use in formulating. I use it in almost all of my salve recipes to offset some of the tackiness of the wax.

FORMULATIONS: Simple Salve