Ingredient dictionary

Myristyl Alcohol

Also listed as: 1-Tetradecanol

A waxy fatty alcohol that softens skin and thickens creams. It helps oil and water stay blended in lotions. It is on the label of 10 products in our library. Checked against our library November 6, 2026.

The catch: none for most people; check the full product list if your skin reacts easily.

What Myristyl Alcohol does

Softens and smooths the skin surface
Adds body and creamy texture
Helps oil and water stay blended

Myristyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, meaning it has a long carbon chain and is waxy rather than watery. It is a white solid that is often made from plant oils such as coconut or palm kernel oil, or through synthetic routes. Despite the word alcohol, it is not the drying kind found in some toners.

Formulators use it mainly as an emollient, which means it softens and smooths the skin's surface. It also adds body and a creamy texture to lotions. Because it helps oil and water blend, it supports stable emulsions and helps keep the product from separating. In a finished cream it feels smooth and cushiony rather than sticky.

Good for

Suits anyone who likes a smooth, light-feeling moisturizer, from body lotion to eye cream.

Be careful if

Nothing in particular for most skin types.

Frequently asked questions

Is myristyl alcohol the same as drying alcohol?

No. Myristyl alcohol is a long, waxy fatty alcohol that softens the skin and stays on the skin, unlike quick-evaporating drying alcohols such as alcohol denat. The shared word alcohol is a naming overlap, not a similar ingredient.

Can myristyl alcohol cause irritation?

It is generally well tolerated, and it is a common, mild ingredient in everyday creams. Reactions are personal, though, so testing a small patch of skin before using a new product is a sensible habit for anyone with sensitive skin.