MYRISTYL ALCOHOL
Myristyl alcohol is a long-chain fatty alcohol, also called 1-tetradecanol. Unlike ethyl alcohol, which evaporates readily, it has a long oily chain; in cosmetics, this makes it a wax-like component that associates more readily with the oil phase of a preparation.
MYRISTYL ALCOHOL: what it is
Myristyl alcohol is a long-chain fatty alcohol, also called 1-tetradecanol. Unlike ethyl alcohol, which evaporates readily, it has a long oily chain; in cosmetics, this makes it a wax-like component that associates more readily with the oil phase of a preparation.
The substance has been identified in organisms including the plant Angelica gigas and the fungus Fusarium fujikuroi. That does not identify the feedstock used for a particular product: the same fatty alcohol can come from renewable raw materials or an industrial route. It is also not the same as cetyl alcohol, a longer-chain fatty alcohol used for related purposes.
MYRISTYL ALCOHOL: what it does in cosmetics
In creams and lotions, myristyl alcohol can help the skin surface feel softer and less rough to the touch, which is the practical meaning of its emollient action. It can also help keep water and oil dispersed in an emulsion, contributing to a texture that stays even while the product is used.
In cleansing products, myristyl alcohol can boost foam and control viscosity. In everyday terms, it can contribute to more noticeable foam and to a gel or cream with body; it does not turn the ingredient into a treatment for acne, dark spots, wrinkles, or disease. The result a person notices depends on the preparation in which it is used.
MYRISTYL ALCOHOL: conditions and care
A clinical case report described cosmetic contact allergy to myristyl alcohol (de Groot and colleagues, Contact Dermatitis, 1988). People with a previous diagnosis of contact allergy to this substance should avoid products that list it and seek professional advice if a reaction occurs after use.
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
