STEARETH-100
Steareth-100 is an ethoxylated stearyl alcohol ether. The number 100 identifies a member of the Steareth series whose ethoxylated portion contains, on average, about one hundred ethylene oxide units; this gives it an oil-affinitive part and another part that interacts with water.
STEARETH-100: what it is
Steareth-100 is an ethoxylated stearyl alcohol ether. The number 100 identifies a member of the Steareth series whose ethoxylated portion contains, on average, about one hundred ethylene oxide units; this gives it an oil-affinitive part and another part that interacts with water.
That structure distinguishes it from lower-numbered Steareth ingredients, which are in the same family but have ethoxylated chains of a different length. It is neither an oil nor a botanical extract: it is made by chemically modifying a fatty chain with ethylene oxide units.
STEARETH-100: what it does in cosmetics
In cleansers, Steareth-100 works as a surfactant: it helps water and oily materials meet during use, supporting the removal of soil and residues that mix with the oily phase. This makes it useful in products that need to cleanse while remaining evenly blended rather than separating into layers.
It can also help form a gel, contributing to a fuller, more uniform texture in a water-based formula during application. The available assessment for alkyl PEG ethers addresses cosmetic-use safety for the class; it does not show that Steareth-100 by itself treats acne, wrinkles, dark spots, or skin disease.
STEARETH-100: conditions and care
Steareth-100 should be included in a non-irritating formulation; this is the condition considered in the safety assessment of the alkyl PEG ether class.
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
Lingette Bebe 120x
