from wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatty_alcohol
Fatty alcohols are
aliphatic alcohols derived from natural
fats and
oils. They are the counterparts of
fatty acids and
fatty aldehydes. They usually have even number of carbon atoms. Production from fatty acids yields normal-chain alcohols—the alcohol group (-OH) attaches to the terminal carbon. Other processing can yield iso-alcohols—where the alcohol attaches to a carbon in the interior of the carbon chain.
The smaller molecules are used in
cosmetics and food, and as industrial
solvents. Some of the larger molecules are important as
biofuels.
Due to their
amphipathic nature, fatty alcohols behave as nonionic
surfactants. They find use as
emulsifiers,
emollients and
thickeners in
cosmetics and
food industry.
Fatty alcohols are a common component of
waxes, mostly as
esters with
fatty acids but also as alcohols themselves.
Those with common names include:
- capryl alcohol (1-octanol) -- 8 carbon atoms
- 2-ethyl hexanol -- 8 carbon atoms, branched
- pelargonic alcohol (1-nonanol) -- 9 carbon atoms
- capric alcohol (1-decanol, decyl alcohol) -- 10 carbon atoms
- 1-dodecanol (lauryl alcohol) -- 12 carbon atoms
- myristyl alcohol (1-tetradecanol) -- 14 carbon atoms
- cetyl alcohol (1-hexadecanol) -- 16 carbon atoms
- palmitoleyl alcohol (cis-9-hexadecan-1-ol) -- 16 carbon atoms, unsaturated, CH3(CH2)5CH=CH(CH2)8OH
- stearyl alcohol (1-octadecanol) -- 18 carbon atoms
- isostearyl alcohol (16-methylheptadecan-1-ol) -- 18 carbon atoms, branched, (CH3)2CH-(CH2)15OH
- elaidyl alcohol (9E-octadecen-1-ol) -- 18 carbon atoms, unsaturated, CH3(CH2)7CH=CH(CH2)8OH
- oleyl alcohol (cis-9-octadecen-1-ol) -- 18 carbon atoms, unsaturated
- linoleyl alcohol (9Z, 12Z-octadecadien-1-ol) -- 18 carbon atoms, polyunsaturated
- elaidolinoleyl alcohol (9E, 12E-octadecadien-1-ol) -- 18 carbon atoms, polyunsaturated
- linolenyl alcohol (9Z, 12Z, 15Z-octadecatrien-1-ol) -- 18 carbon atoms, polyunsaturated
- elaidolinolenyl alcohol (9E, 12E, 15-E-octadecatrien-1-ol) -- 18 carbon atoms, polyunsaturated
- ricinoleyl alcohol (12-hydroxy-9-octadecen-1-ol) -- 18 carbon atoms, unsaturated, diol, CH3(CH2)5CH(OH)CH2CH=CH(CH2)8OH
- arachidyl alcohol (1-eicosanol) -- 20 carbon atoms
- behenyl alcohol (1-docosanol) -- 22 carbon atoms
- erucyl alcohol (cis-13-docosen-1-ol) -- 22 carbon atoms, unsaturated, CH3(CH2)7CH=CH(CH2)12OH
- lignoceryl alcohol (1-tetracosanol) -- 24 carbon atoms
- ceryl alcohol (1-hexacosanol) -- 26 carbon atoms
- montanyl alcohol, cluytyl alcohol (1-octacosanol) -- 28 carbon atoms
- myricyl alcohol, melissyl alcohol (1-triacontanol) -- 30 carbon atoms
- geddyl alcohol (1-tetratriacontanol) -- 34 carbon atoms
Behenyl alcohol,
lignoceryl alcohol,
ceryl alcohol,
1-heptacosanol,
montanyl alcohol,
1-nonacosanol,
myricyl alcohol,
1-dotriacontanol, and
geddyl alcohol are together classified as
policosanol, with montanyl alcohol and myricyl alcohol being the most abundant.
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information from the following site: http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.net/Additives/Skin-Care-Products-Defined.htm
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Emollients and Their Importance[/FONT]
An emollient is a substance that lubricates and softens the skin. A good emollient gives flexible, smooth skin and gets rid of flaking and hard skin. A high quality emollient hydrate and moistens the skin. [/FONT]
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The most effective emollient is water. Oil does not moisten the skin unless it helps to hold in more moisture on the skin. Emollients help to protect the skin and they also stop dryness, which can help to heal the skin. An emollient helps dry skin and also prevents dry skin. It give protection to the skin from synthetic chemicals in make-up and other and sun damage. [/FONT]
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Substances that are used as a natural emollient are olive oil, castor oil, coconut oil, avocado oil and other vegetable oils. Substances that act as an emollient derived from animal products are cod liver oil and lanolin. Often supposed natural emollients may be sued with synthetics and hydrocarbons.[/FONT]
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The best emollients are phospholipids, phytoglycols (plant oils), fatty acids, fatty acid esters, plant sterols, fatty alcohols, lanolin and items derived from lanolin. The first three are the best. Lecithin is a phospholipids and is a good emollient. Lucithin is also a good surfactant and natural emulsifier. [/FONT]
I'm from BR too.
