A blend of long-chain fatty alcohols from Brassica seed oils, used as a surfactant and emulsifier.
What it is
Arachidyl/behenyl alcohol is, according to CosIng, a fatty alcohol fraction consisting mainly of arachidyl (C20) and behenyl (C22) alcohols, derived from the seed oil of various Brassica species. CosIng lists it as an emulsifying, foam-boosting, hydrotropic, cleansing and dispersing surfactant.
Where it is used
Found in creams, lotions, hair conditioners and other emulsions.
Limits of interpretation
The INCI list shows which ingredients are present, not how much of each. Above 1%, ingredients are listed in descending order of weight; below 1% the order is free.
As a fraction of natural fatty alcohols, its exact chain-length distribution can vary.
Functions
- Surfactant – emulsifying
- Helping suspensions or dispersions of liquids in a second liquid by reducing the surface tension of the substances to be emulsified.
- Surfactant – foam boosting
- Increasing foaming capacity and/or stabilize foams in general.
- Surfactant – hydrotrope
- Enhancing the water solubility of another surfactant.
- Surfactant – cleansing
- Wetting body surfaces, emulsifying or solubilizing oils, and suspending soil (generally, such ingredients contribute to the foaming and lathering properties of cleansing products).
- Surfactant – dispersing
- Helping distribute an insoluble solid in a liquid phase.
EU regulation
This ingredient is not listed in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 in the CosIng data.