Excellent Emollient NOAEL Data SCCS/CIR Reviewed Sensitization Data Dermal Penetration

Cetyl Alcohol

INCI: CETYL ALCOHOL

CAS Number
36653-82-4
Function
emollient, emulsion stabilizer
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status permitted
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes Cosmetic ingredient. Non-irritating emollient/emulsifier. NRS guidance explicitly notes cetyl and cetearyl alcohols are non-irritating fatty alcohols and should not be confused with SD alcohol/denatured alcohol. Appropriate for rosacea formulations including cream cleansers.

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
not established
Dermal Absorption
negligible
Sensitization
none

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Toxicological Studies

2 study endpoints found for Cetyl Alcohol. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.

Endpoint Value Route Species Study Type Source
LOAEL 0.5 % oral dog Subchronic COSMOS_DB
LOAEL 1 % oral rat Subchronic COSMOS_DB

Safety Opinions

Official safety assessments from the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR).

cir Number 3, 1988
Verdict: unknown

Sensitization Profile

Contact sensitization data for Cetyl Alcohol based on clinical patch test studies and IFRA standards.

Sensitization Rate
low
Allergen Class
botanical
EU Allergen Listed
no
Patch Test Positive Rate
0.3%
Cross-reactivity Group
cetyl-group
Reaction Type
contact-dermatitis

Source: IVDK; ESSCA; NACDG

Dermal Penetration Profile

Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Cetyl Alcohol, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.

Absorption %
0.1-0.5%
Penetration Level
surface
Penetration Depth
surface only
Molecular Weight
242.4 Da
Log P
7.4
Systemic Absorption
no
Topical Bioavailability
0.05%
Safety Margin Factor
minimal

Source: CIR

Expert Verdict

True emollient that fills intercellular spaces between corneocytes to smooth and soften skin texture. Functions as an emulsion stabilizer and co-emulsifier in O/W and W/O body creams. Well-tolerated fatty alcohol that is not a common sensitizer.

⚠️
Concern Level: None

Regulatory Flags

emollient fatty-alcohol emulsion-stabilizer skin-smoothing eu_children_restricted ifra_fragrance fda_food_additive

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cetyl Alcohol safe in cosmetics?

True emollient that fills intercellular spaces between corneocytes to smooth and soften skin texture. Functions as an emulsion stabilizer and co-emulsifier in O/W and W/O body creams. Well-tolerated fatty alcohol that is not a common sensitizer. The EU classifies Cetyl Alcohol as "permitted". Safety rating: EXCELLENT. 2 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database. This ingredient has been reviewed by cir.

Is Cetyl Alcohol allowed in the EU?

Cetyl Alcohol EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Cetyl Alcohol do in cosmetics?

Cetyl Alcohol functions as: emollient, emulsion stabilizer. It is classified as a Emollient in our database. CAS number: 36653-82-4.

What is the Margin of Safety for Cetyl Alcohol?

not established The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

What is the NOAEL for Cetyl Alcohol?

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Cetyl Alcohol is 0.5 % based on a Subchronic study via oral route in dog. A total of 2 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS_DB.

Compliance Tools

Check Cetyl Alcohol compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

🔬
Ingredient Decoder
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 🌸
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
 🧪
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across 55 jurisdictions
 🧮
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
 ⚗️
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions

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