CETETH-20
CETETH-20, also called Ceteth-20, is a polyethylene glycol ether attached to cetyl alcohol. The number 20 denotes an average of twenty ethylene oxide units in the chain, so the name refers to a group of closely related molecules rather than one molecule of a fixed size.
CETETH-20: what it is
CETETH-20, also called Ceteth-20, is a polyethylene glycol ether attached to cetyl alcohol. The number 20 denotes an average of twenty ethylene oxide units in the chain, so the name refers to a group of closely related molecules rather than one molecule of a fixed size.
It starts with cetyl alcohol, a long-chain fatty alcohol, which is ethoxylated. That step adds a water-friendly portion to a chain with an affinity for oils. CETETH-20 is not the same ingredient as cetyl alcohol: the modification changes how it behaves around water and oil, making it useful where those phases would otherwise separate.
CETETH-20: what it does in cosmetics
CETETH-20 is chiefly used to help water and oil stay mixed in lotions, creams, and other products meant to have an even texture. By sitting at the boundary between the two phases, it helps distribute oil droplets through the water phase, so the preparation is less likely to split and applies more evenly.
In rinse-off products, its cleansing action helps water spread through oil and residue so they can be carried away during rinsing. This is a structural job in the formula, concerned with consistency and use; CETETH-20 is not an active intended to treat acne, discoloration, or skin conditions.
CETETH-20: conditions and care
The assessment of the alkyl PEG ether group that includes CETETH-20 conditioned its conclusion on non-irritating formulations. This is a formulation criterion, not a promise of individual tolerance.
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
