Ingredient glossary / Emollient
Cetyl alcohol
On the label: Cetyl Alcohol · Emollient
What it is
A fatty alcohol from coconut or palm oil used to thicken and soften; one half of cetearyl alcohol.
Emollients: Emollients fill the gaps between skin cells and leave the surface smooth and soft; oils, butters and esters.
Wikidata: Chemical compound. Q161632 →
In the research
49 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- Uncovering allergen presence and accumulation in glucose monitoring systems: evidence of a "sponge effect" via validated GC-MS · Analytica chimica acta, 2026
- Clinical Evaluation of a Soap-Free Cleansing Lotion Containing Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids for Effective Impurity Removal and Skin Barrier Preservation in Healthy Adults With D · Cureus, 2025
- Propolis-Loaded Niosomes for Dermopharmaceutic and Cosmetic Applications: Development, Stability, Safety, and In Vitro Bioactivity Studies · ACS pharmacology & translational science, 2025
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on cells or mice says little about a cream on a face.
Products whose label lists it
6 on the siteMatched from the ingredient list the supplier printed; the position in the list (first or thirtieth) is on each product page.
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USAOther emollients
Dew & Balm describes ingredients from the public record and makes no claim about what a product will do for you. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA. If a product causes a reaction, stop using it; a reaction that spreads or affects breathing is a call to a doctor or 911.