OLETH-10
OLETH-10 belongs to the oleth family, a group of polyethylene glycol ethers made from oleyl alcohol. It is a non-ionic surfactant, meaning that it can work at the boundary between water and oil without carrying an electrical charge under ordinary use conditions.
OLETH-10: what it is
OLETH-10 belongs to the oleth family, a group of polyethylene glycol ethers made from oleyl alcohol. It is a non-ionic surfactant, meaning that it can work at the boundary between water and oil without carrying an electrical charge under ordinary use conditions.
The number 10 refers to the average number of ethylene oxide units added to the chain while oleyl alcohol is ethoxylated. Because it is a manufacturing average, the name does not describe one single, isolated molecule, but a group of chains with closely related lengths.
OLETH-10: what it does in cosmetics
In a cosmetic, OLETH-10 helps water and oily components stay together instead of separating into layers. That emulsifying action supports the product's texture and even distribution, while its cleansing action helps lift oil and dirt from the surface during rinsing.
A 2014 physicochemical study found that OLETH-10, combined with another surfactant and oil phases, reduced the tension between phases and formed organised systems. The experiment did not test a cosmetic on human skin, so it does not by itself show moisturising, treatment, or another result for product users.
OLETH-10: conditions and care
A 1999 safety assessment described moderate eye-irritation potential and cumulative skin irritation for OLETH-10 in the data it assessed. It called for particular care with formulations intended for damaged skin.
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
