Cetearyl Alcohol 1 kg

What Gives Body Lotions Their Rich, Velvety Feel

Cetearyl alcohol is a blend of solid fatty alcohols derived from plant sources, and it has long been a foundational raw material in the personal care industry. Its main role is not moisturizing as many assume, but rather stabilizing emulsions, thickening formulas, and building that smooth, velvety film felt in creams, lotions, and hair conditioners. This is why the strongest global demand comes from skincare and haircare manufacturers, along with pharmaceutical producers who rely on it for ointment bases. Within the catalog it belongs to the Acids, Salts, Alcohols, and Alkalis section, which brings together raw materials used to control texture and stability in finished formulations.

In both industrial and small studio production, cetearyl alcohol is added to the oil phase together with other solid ingredients and melted at around 65-75 degrees Celsius. Once combined with the water phase, the mixture forms a stable, dense emulsion with a pleasant slip. Typical usage ranges from 2 to 8 percent of the total formula weight: lower amounts produce light lotions, while higher amounts create thick creams and hair balms. Beyond thickening, it boosts the performance of primary emulsifiers, reduces the risk of phase separation during storage, and leaves a comfortable, non-greasy film on the skin.

Cetearyl alcohol pairs well with vegetable and essential oils, silicones, glycerin, and fatty acids. Combining it with Oleic Acid, for instance, helps achieve a softer, more pliable emulsion texture, particularly useful in formulas for dry skin. After the emulsification step, formulators often fine-tune the acidity of the finished product by adding a small amount of Citric Acid to the cooled emulsion, bringing the pH into a skin-friendly range. Some formulations that require added buffering also include Tartaric Acid, especially in natural-leaning products built around plant extracts.

Beyond cosmetics, cetearyl alcohol is widely used in hair conditioners and masks, where it smooths strands and eases detangling, as well as in household chemicals as a component of cream-textured cleaners and polishes. In pharmaceutical manufacturing it forms the base of soft topical dosage forms, valued for its consistent texture and resistance to separation under temperature fluctuations. It occasionally appears in candle-making as an additive that improves paste pliability, though this remains a minor application rather than its primary purpose.

A 1 kg package suits small production batches, formulation testing, and studio workshops producing cosmetics in a small-batch format while refining recipes ahead of larger-scale manufacturing. Store the material in a dry place away from direct sunlight, at room temperature, in a tightly sealed container to prevent oxidation and moisture contact. When storage conditions are respected, shelf life remains long, making it convenient for regular restocking aligned with ongoing production cycles.

Rich Hand Cream with a Dense Texture

Cetearyl alcohol 40 g

Shea butter 30 g

Sweet almond oil 40 g

Vegetable emulsifier 25 g

Glycerin 20 g

Distilled water 340 g

Preservative 5 g

Lavender essential oil 3 ml

Melt the oil phase containing cetearyl alcohol, shea butter, almond oil, and the emulsifier over a water bath at 70 degrees Celsius. Separately heat the water with glycerin to the same temperature and slowly pour it into the oil phase while stirring continuously until a uniform emulsion forms. Cool to 40 degrees, add the preservative and lavender oil, stir until fully cooled, and transfer into jars.