C12-13 PARETH-23
C12-13 PARETH-23 is a family of C12 and C13 fatty alcohols that has been ethoxylated. Put simply, it combines an oil-affinitive portion with a chain that interacts with water; the number 23 indicates the average number of ethylene oxide units in that chain, rather than one single, uniform molecule.
C12-13 PARETH-23: what it is
C12-13 PARETH-23 is a family of C12 and C13 fatty alcohols that has been ethoxylated. Put simply, it combines an oil-affinitive portion with a chain that interacts with water; the number 23 indicates the average number of ethylene oxide units in that chain, rather than one single, uniform molecule.
It is therefore a mixture of related structures, not a pure plant oil or an ordinary household alcohol. C12-13 refers to the length of the starting fatty chains. Bringing an oil-affinitive part together with a water-affinitive one helps explain why it can be used in cleansers and in preparations that need water and oily ingredients to stay together.
C12-13 PARETH-23: what it does in cosmetics
In a cleansing product, C12-13 PARETH-23 helps disperse oily residue in water so it can be removed during rinsing. In a lotion, cream, or other multiphase preparation, it can help spread and keep together ingredients that would otherwise tend to separate. For the user, that can support a more even texture and more consistent application.
The ingredient also occurs in wet-wipe formulations, but that presence alone does not establish a skin result. Cleansing and emulsifying describe a physical job in the preparation: helping water, oil, and residue form a usable mixture. They do not mean that the isolated ingredient treats acne, dark spots, wrinkles, or any skin condition.
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
