Cetearyl alcohol is a chemical found in cosmetic products. It’s a white, waxy substance made from cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol, both fatty alcohols. They’re found in animals and plants, like coconut and palm oil. They are used in personal care products, mainly skin lotions, hair products, and creams. They help create smoother creams, thicker lotions, and more stable foam products. Cetearyl alcohol is a combination of the two (cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol), so it has 34 carbon atoms. Its molecular formula is C34H72O2.