How we scored it
Where it comes from
Made by ethoxylating oleochemical cetearyl alcohol (coconut/palm-derived C16-18 fatty alcohol blend) with petroleum-derived ethylene oxide. Petrochemical Ziegler/oxo-derived cetearyl alcohol also exists; cosmetic grade is typically oleochemical.
In plain English
An emulsifier made from cetearyl alcohol, a blend of natural fatty alcohols, reacted with 2 units of ethylene oxide, a petroleum-derived building block. Helps blend oil and water phases in creams.
CosIng definition: C16-18 alcohols, ethoxylated (2 mol EO average molar ratio)
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References
- 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
- 2CETEARETH-2. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3CETEARETH-2. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=CETEARETH-2