How we scored it
Where it comes from
Oleyl alcohol is typically derived from oleic acid in vegetable oils via reduction, then ethoxylated with petrochemical ethylene oxide. Petrochemical (Ziegler) oleyl alcohol is a minor alternative feedstock.
In plain English
Oleth-11 is a fatty alcohol combined with ethylene oxide, used as an emulsifier and mild cleanser in personal care products. The fatty part usually comes from vegetable oil; the ethoxylation uses a petroleum-based gas.
CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-9-(Z)-octadecenyl-.omega.-hydroxy (11 mol EO average molar ratio)
Natural alternatives with the same function
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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.
- 2OLETH-11. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3OLETH-11. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=OLETH-11