Arbonne's Official Response to Specific Ingredient Questions

ALCOHOLS

Question:
Arbonne’s product formulation philosophy states “no alcohol” so why do I see Cetyl Alcohol and Cetearyl Alcohol on the ingredient lists?

What It Is
The word “Alcohol” simply describes an oxygen-hydrogen group attached to a carbon.  There are many types of alcohols used in cosmetic formulations ?some beneficial fatty alcohols ? which include Cetyl and Cetearyl, and some non-beneficial, which include ethyl alcohol or ethanol. 

Ethyl alcohol, commonly known as rubbing alcohol, is medicinally used as a topical antiseptic, astringent and antibacterial and is considered by Arbonne to be too strong and too drying for application on the skin.

Why are “fatty alcohols” included?
Arbonne does use complex alcohols such as Cetyl Alcohol and Cetearyl Alcohol, which are known as “fatty alcohols”.  The word “alcohol” simply describes a complex molecular chain attached to a carbon molecule.  These alcohols do not have the drying effects of ethanol and are safely used as emollients and emulsifiers. 

The Facts
The non-drying alcohols Arbonne uses in its formulations are safe and effective emollients, emulsifiers and moisturizers. Emollients provide conditioning and moisturizing while emulsifiers are safely used for thickening and giving body to a formulation.

For More Information
Please refer to the following:
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Board at www.cir-safety.org
Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association at www.ctfa.org
U.S. Food and Drug Administration at www.fda.gov