Ingredients

Myristyl Alcohol

Why myristyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, not a drying alcohol, what it does in creams and cleansers, and who it suits.

By Nora Ellison · Published

No specific flag recordedIn 11 products we cover

Annotations are editorial flags, not safety scores or measured reaction rates. How we classify and match ingredients.

Also known as 1-Tetradecanol, Tetradecyl Alcohol

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Chemical structure of Myristyl Alcohol (C14H30O)
Chemical structure of Myristyl Alcohol (C₁₄H₃₀O), drawn from PubChem CID 8209.

Quick facts

INCI name
Myristyl Alcohol
CAS number
112-72-1
Origin
Plant-derived or Synthetic
Chemical class
Fatty alcohol (14-carbon)
What it does in a formula
emollient, emulsion stabilizing, viscosity controlling, foam boosting
Why it is in the formula
Thickens and stabilizes creams and lotions and gives them a soft, smooth feel.
Regulatory notes
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel concluded myristyl alcohol, with cetearyl, cetyl, isostearyl and behenyl alcohol, is safe as a cosmetic ingredient in the present practices of use.

What is Myristyl Alcohol?

Myristyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, not a drying alcohol. It’s a white, waxy solid made mostly of 14-carbon alcohol chains, also known as 1-tetradecanol. That makes it very different from alcohol denat., the thin, fast-evaporating alcohol in some toners and gels.

It can be made from plant oils such as coconut or palm kernel, or synthetically, and the label won’t tell you which. It belongs to the same family as cetyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol and behenyl alcohol, which differ mainly in chain length. You’ll find it in moisturizers, sunscreens, eye creams, lip products and some cleansers.

What does Myristyl Alcohol do?

The safety review describes long-chain fatty alcohols in lotions as working in several ways:

  • Softens skin. As an emollient, it helps skin feel smoother and less rough.
  • Stabilizes emulsions. It helps keep oil and water from separating, so a cream stays even.
  • Thickens. It builds body, turning a thin lotion into a richer cream.
  • Stabilizes foam. In cleansers, it can help the lather hold up.

It’s a texture and structure ingredient. It isn’t there to treat anything.

Who is Myristyl Alcohol for?

It suits most skin types, and it’s especially common in moisturizers for dry and normal skin. The safety review found a 0.8% lotion nonirritating to human skin over four weeks, and a 0.25% moisturizer neither irritating nor sensitizing. The panel concluded it is safe as used.

If you’ve avoided products because “alcohol” appears on the label, this is a good one to cross off your worry list. If a cream with it does bother you, look at the full formula rather than blaming one ingredient.

What to pair Myristyl Alcohol with, and what to avoid

There’s nothing to pair. It works inside the formula with the emulsifiers, oils and water. If you’re choosing a moisturizer, the moisturizer guide covers what matters more than any single fatty alcohol.

Quick picks with Myristyl Alcohol

Picked from label facts only. We haven't tested these products.

All 11 products with Myristyl Alcohol

Daily Moisturizers & Water Gel Creams (2)

Daily Sunscreens & SPF Moisturizers (1)

Beard Oils, Balms & Beard Washes (1)

Targeted Vitamin C & Brightening Correctors (1)

Intensive Lip Recovery Masks & Tinted Balms (1)

Gel, Foam & Cream Facial Cleansers (1)

Eye Creams & Under-Eye Patches (1)

From stores: products with Myristyl Alcohol

Store-listed products whose ingredient list we've checked.

Eye Creams & Under-Eye Patches (1)

Body Creams, Butters & Body Oils (1)

Hydrating Serums, Essences & Ampoules (1)

Common questions

Is myristyl alcohol a drying alcohol?

No. It's a fatty alcohol, a waxy solid that softens skin and thickens creams. The alcohols that can feel drying are short-chain ones such as alcohol denat., which are liquids that evaporate quickly.

What does myristyl alcohol do in skincare?

It helps hold an emulsion together, thickens the product and gives it a smooth, cushioned feel. In cleansers it can also help stabilize the foam.

Is myristyl alcohol safe for skin?

A cosmetic safety panel concluded it is safe as used in cosmetics. In the human tests it reviewed, lotions with myristyl alcohol were not irritating, though any product can bother someone, so patch-test if your skin reacts easily.

Is myristyl alcohol natural?

It can come from plant oils such as coconut or palm kernel oil, or be made synthetically. The label name is the same either way.

Sources