Myristyl alcohol

Other names: 1-tetradecanol, Myristyl alcohol, Tetradecanol

Harm score: 2 (Derivatives of natural substances)

Myristyl alcohol or 1-tetradecanol, Myristyl alcohol or Tetradecanol is a long-chain saturated fatty alcohol. Chemically, it is an important constituent of fats and oils. It is a white solid with a greasy appearance that is virtually insoluble in most semi-aromatic and subsequently volatile solvents. It looks very similar to most other fatty alcohols, one of them being lauryl alcohol.

Myristyl alcohol is used extensively in the cosmetics industry, where it is a key ingredient in the manufacture of many types of soaps, shampoos and skin nourishing creams. It is also useful in formulations for sensitive skin as it has excellent balancing and emulsifying properties, thereby accelerating the absorption of other ingredients into the skin. In addition, it is used in industries such as the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, where its role is to stabilize products and increase their effectiveness. For this reason, it can also be found as an ingredient in many other products, from toothpastes to various creams to lip balms.