Ingredient · Ingredient
Octyldodecanol
FineExposure route: On skin, Contact
A common fatty-alcohol moisturizer in cosmetics that is well-tolerated on skin.
Octyldodecanol is a synthetic fatty alcohol used as an emollient and texture-improver in lotions, sunscreens, and makeup. It has low irritation potential and is not absorbed in ways that raise systemic safety concerns at the concentrations used in personal care products.
Why it matters
Octyldodecanol is a large, waxy fatty alcohol (not the drying kind found in alcohol-based hand sanitizers). Cosmetic chemists add it to creams, sunscreens, and foundations because it feels smooth, helps other ingredients spread evenly, and locks moisture into skin. It sits on the skin's surface rather than penetrating deeply, so it mainly matters to people applying skincare or makeup, not to anyone eating or inhaling it - it isn't used in food.
Sources (2)
- 1.CosIng - Cosmetic Ingredient Database (European Commission)(ec.europa.eu)
- 2.Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) - Fatty Alcohol Safety Assessments
