Fatty Alcohols in Skin Care Products

What are fatty alcohols and why are they in alcohol-free skin care products?

Fatty alcohol in skin care products is used to make moisturizers and creams thicker and more luxurious so they coat your skin and make skin smoother. But will they dry out your skin?

We can help you see if fatty alcohol is good or bad for your skin type.

Finding the best skin care products for your Baumann Skin Type is easy- just take the quiz.

We will give you specific recommendations about what skin care products are best for you. You can see if fatty alcohols make sense for your skin type.

fatty alcohols in skin care

Are Fatty Alcohols in Skin Care Products Bad for You?

Fatty alcohols are not bad for skin. There is a lot of confusion about fatty alcohols vs alcohols in cosmeceuticals.

Fatty alcohols are not the same as simple alcohol. Fatty alcohols are also called long chain alcohols. They have an even number of carbon atoms and have one alcohol group (-OH) attached to the last carbon of the chain. This structure allows the fatty alcohol to trap water, smooth and hydrate skin.

What are Fatty Alcohols made from?

Fatty alcohols are made from fatty acids. These are usually sourced from plants but may be animal derived. Jojoba oil, beeswax, carnauba wax, candelilla wax have a large amount of fatty alcohols. The most commonly used oils to make fatty alcohols are: coconut, and palm oil. Corn, canola, rapeseed, and soybean oil can also be used. Lanolin alcohol is animal derived.

Are Fatty Alcohols Vegan, Clean and Organic?

There are vegan, clean, organic and natural forms of fatty alcohols. However, they are not all vegan and organic.

Some fatty alcohols are considered clean ingredients. It depends upon what oils they are derived from.

What are fatty alcohols

Why are Fatty Alcohols in Skin Care products?

Fatty alcohols are added to skin care products as an emulsifier, surfactant, emollient, and thickener. They make cosmetic products feel smooth on the skin and gives them a nice cosmetically elegant feel when they are applied.

Fatty Alcohols are Emollients

Fatty alcohols, also known as long-chain alcohols, are emollients that provide a softening and smoothing effect on the skin. Their molecular structure allows them to penetrate the upper layers of the skin, filling in the spaces between skin cells, which results in a surface that is smoother to the touch. This smoothing action not only enhances the aesthetic feel of the skin but also helps to retain moisture, thus mitigating issues of skin dryness and facilitating a healthier, more hydrated appearance.

Fatty Alcohols are Surfactants

Fatty alcohols act as surfactants in skincare products, which means they lower the surface tension between different substances. In simpler terms, imagine trying to mix oil and water — they naturally don’t mix well. However, when a surfactant like a fatty alcohol is added, it decreases the tension between the oil and water, allowing them to blend more easily. This ability is crucial in the creation of skincare products which often contain both water-based and oil-based ingredients. The surfactant’s role, therefore, ensures that the product maintains a consistent texture and delivers both types of ingredients effectively to your skin.

what is an emulsion stabilizer?

Fatty Alcohols are Emulsifiers

Fatty alcohols in skin care products are also used as emulsion stabilizers. An emulsion stabilizer is an ingredient that helps keep the blend of oil and water from separating over time. Without an emulsion stabilizer, the product would separate into its oil-based and water-based components, leading to a runny or uneven consistency. By using fatty alcohols as emulsion stabilizers, cosmetic chemists ensure that the product remains mixed, keeping its intended consistency and effectiveness. The incorporation of an emulsion stabilizer ultimately leads to a product with a more luxurious feel and a better performance on the skin, enriching the user’s skincare experience.

Fatty Alcohols are Thickeners

Cosmetic chemists often utilize fatty alcohols as thickeners in their formulations. A thickener, as the term implies, is an ingredient added to a product to increase its viscosity or thickness, contributing to a more substantive and rich texture.

Fatty alcohols are ideal thickeners due to their unique chemical structure. They possess a long, flexible hydrocarbon chain which allows them to intermingle and entangle with other ingredients in the formula, thereby increasing the overall viscosity.

When fatty alcohols are present in a formulation, they create a denser network within the mixture which effectively “thickens” the product and gives it a luxurious feel.

Although fatty alcohols are more commonly found in creams and lotions due to the higher demand for viscosity in these products, they can also be found in lighter skincare products like serums, albeit usually at lower concentrations.

The thickening ability of fatty alcohols is versatile and allows formulators the flexibility to create products that span a wide range of consistencies, from lightweight serums to richer creams.

List of Fatty Alcohols in Skin Care Products

Behenyl alcohol – Plant based saturated fatty alcohol. Can be vegan. It is usually made from vegetable oils but can also be laboratory made. Rated 1 by EWG.

Cetearyl alcohol- A mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It can be vegan and come from lants like coconut oil or palm oil. However, there are laboratory made and animal derived versions too.

Cetyl alcohol- Comes from coconut oil and palm oil.

Cetyl Esters Wax- Made from coconut oil and palm oil

Decyl Alcohol- From vegetable oil

Hexyldecanol

Isostearyl alcohol

Lauryl alcohol- From vegetable oil

Myristy alcohol

Octyldodecanol-

Polyglyceryl- 3 Stearate

Stearoyl Lactylate-

Stearyl alcohol- Can be animal derived but is usually from vegetable oil

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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