Many skincare products contain alcohol in their composition. "Behenyl Alcohol" is one of the alcohols used in skincare treatments. What is its purpose? We provide more information about "Behenyl Alcohol" or behenyl alcohol. This way, you can understand the ingredients on skincare packaging.
What is "Behenyl Alcohol" and what is its utility?
Published on October 29, 2021, updated on February 2, 2024, by Stéphanie, PhD, Doctorate in Life and Health Sciences — 2 min of reading
What is "Behenyl Alcohol"?
"Behenyl Alcohol," or behenyl alcohol, is naturally derived and belongs to the family of fatty alcohols. The INCI names "alcohol" that are preceded by a term ending with the suffix "-yl" are fatty alcohols. Example : Cetyl alcohol or myristyl alcohol. Behenyl alcohol is found in vegetables, in the mixture of long-chain fatty acids. It is colorless and waxy.
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What is the utility of "Behenyl Alcohol"?
Behenyl alcohol is used in skincare as a:
Emulsifying Agent: It allows the mixing of oily ingredients with aqueous ones. It is also used as a emulsion stabilizer, meaning it promotes the emulsion while stabilizing it and enhancing its preservation;
Thickening Agent: It is used in skincare to increase the "foaming" capacity of the product or to improve the stability of the foam;
Emollient agent: It softens and smoothens the skin;
Verification Control Agent: It is used to increase or decrease the verification of skincare.
Behenyl alcohol is present in many care products, such as perfumes, body care products, and hair dyes. It is used as a preservative agent to protect the mixture from contamination. It also neutralizes bacteria, soothes inflammation, and deodorizes.
