Clinical Drug Experience Knowledgebase

Stearyl Alcohol is long chain fatty alcohol. Stearyl alcohol is prepared from stearic acid or some fats by the process of catalytic hydrogenation. It has low toxicity. Stearyl Alcohol is used in surface-active agents, lubricants, emulsions, resins, and USP ointments and as a substitute for cetyl alcohol and antifoaming agents. Stearyl Alcohol (synthetic) has been approved as a direct food additive (DFA) ingredient, to be used under the same manufacturing practices as the natrual alcohol product. It also has indirect food additive (IFA) status for use in food containers. Stearyl Alcohol is also used as an ingredient in over-the-counter (OTC) drugs of the miscellaneous external drug product category. It is considered to be safe at a concentration of 8 percent or less. Stearyl Alcohol is used in cosmetics as an emollient, stabilizer, antifoaming agent, emulsifier, and carrier. It is used as a water in oil (w/o) emulsifier to produce firm cosmetic products at ordinary temperatures.   ^NCATS