Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/Ceteth-3
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Ceteth-3 natural?

Mostly. Cetyl chain from coconut/palm fatty alcohol is natural; the three ethylene oxide units are petrochemical.

INCI nameCeteth-3
CAS9004-95-9
FormulaC22H46O4 · 374.6 Da
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant · Cleansing Surfactant
FeedstockMade by ethoxylating cetyl alcohol, typically from coconut…

How we scored it

Cetyl alcohol C16H34O (242.4, natural) + 3 EO C6H12O3 (132.2, petrochemical) = 374.6 total; 242.4/374.6 = 0.65.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

Where it comes from

Made by ethoxylating cetyl alcohol, typically from coconut or palm kernel oil, with an average of three moles of ethylene oxide. Cetyl alcohol can also be petrochemical-derived, but cosmetic grade is assumed oleochemical.

In plain English

Made by reacting cetyl alcohol (from coconut or palm oil) with three units of ethylene oxide. Used as an emulsifier and cleansing ingredient that helps blend oil and water in creams and cleansers.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-hexadecyl-.omega.-hydroxy- (3 mol EO average molar ratio)

Natural alternatives with the same function

Arachidic Acid 100% natural origin

A waxy fatty acid from peanut and other vegetable oils, used to thicken formulas and give creams and…

 Arachidyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A gentle, sugar-based emulsifier used in creams and lotions to stabilize formulas without harsh surfactants. It's made from…

 Behenic Acid 100% natural origin

A long-chain fatty acid from vegetable oil, used to thicken and stabilise creams and conditioners. It is extracted…

 C10-16 Alkyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A mild, sugar-based cleansing and emulsifying surfactant made by combining plant-derived fatty alcohols (coconut/palm) with glucose from starch.…

 C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A mild, sugar-based cleansing ingredient made from coconut or palm fatty alcohols and glucose; helps cleanse skin and…

 C18-36 Acid 100% natural origin

A blend of long-chain plant fatty acids used as a mild cleanser and thickener, giving body and a…

Structure

2D structure of Ceteth-3

2-[2-(2-hexadecoxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethanol

PubChem CID 4639427 ↗

References

  1. 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.
  2. 2Ceteth-3. PubChem CID 4639427. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3CETETH-3. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4CETETH-3. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=CETETH-3