Australian Wholesale Oils Stearyl Alcohol is a 100 percent natural, vegetable derived fatty alcohol, used widely in the cosmetic and personal care industry. As an emulsifier, it helps to bind and keep product ingredients from separating (oil and water), as well as giving products better spreadability. As a thickening agent and surfactant, it helps to increase the viscosity (thickness) of the product and can also increase the foaming capacity. Stearyl Alcohol is well known to condition and soften hair and skin, so is also often added to products to increase its moisturizing properties.