Emollient

Behenyl Alcohol

The longest and most luxurious fatty alcohol in cosmetics — Behenyl Alcohol with a C22 chain provides products with a dense creamy texture and a feeling of "luxury." Especially popular in night creams and intensive oils.

Fatty alcoholC22Creamy textureRecovery
✓ Safe
Comedogenic Rating
0/5
Irritation Potential
0/5

What is it?

Behenyl Alcohol (1-Docosanol) — a fatty alcohol with 22 carbon atoms (C22). Obtained from rapeseed or rice oil. A longer chain compared to cetyl (C16) and cetearyl (C16/C18) — denser texture, stronger emollient effect. In INCI: Behenyl Alcohol or 1-Docosanol.

A key component in night creams, masks, and intensive recovery products. Popular in products for very dry skin and hair conditioners.

Key Benefits

Luxurious dense texture
Due to the longer C22 chain, it forms a denser, more "luxurious" creamy texture than standard cetyl or stearyl alcohols — a premium product feel.
Intense emollience and occlusion
A more powerful protective barrier on the skin's surface compared to shorter fatty alcohols — ideal for very dry or damaged skin.
Antiviral activity (1-Docosanol)
1-Docosanol (Behenyl Alcohol) has proven antiviral activity against lipid-enveloped viruses — which is why it is active in some herpes treatments.

Suitable for

Dry skinVery dry skinNight care

Main Actions

✓ Emollience✓ Dense texture✓ Occlusion✓ Barrier recovery✓ Conditioning
Behenyl in anti-aging and hair

Behenyl alcohol — popular in premium anti-aging creams due to the feeling of luxury. In hair products (conditioners, masks) — a powerful moisturizer and conditioner that seals the cuticle scales and provides shine.

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