Ceteth-2 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient functions mainly as a nonionic emulsifier and co-emulsifier, helping oil and water phases stay blended in creams, lotions, and cleansing systems. Its low ethoxylation level makes it more oil-leaning, so it is especially useful for richer emulsions and texture control.
What does Ceteth-2 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient functions mainly as a nonionic emulsifier and co-emulsifier, helping oil and water phases stay blended in creams, lotions, and cleansing systems. Its low ethoxylation level makes it more oil-leaning, so it is especially useful for richer emulsions and texture control.
Is Ceteth-2 clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient has friction because it is ethoxylated and can be associated with trace processing residues if purification is not well controlled. It is generally low-irritation in finished formulas, but some clean standards restrict or exclude this class.
Is Ceteth-2 sustainable?
This material is typically made from a fatty alcohol that may be plant-derived or petro-derived, then modified with a petrochemical-derived oxide. It is expected to biodegrade more readily than many persistent synthetics, but its mixed sourcing and ethoxylated processing weaken its sustainability profile.
Is Ceteth-2 COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards because ethoxylation is not an allowed chemical modification route. From a Green Chemistry lens, it has some biodegradability advantages but relies on petrochemical processing and residue control.
How does Ceteth-2 work chemically?
The molecule is a fatty alcohol ethoxylate with a long C16 hydrophobe and a very short polyether chain, giving it low water solubility and a low HLB value around the water-in-oil co-emulsifier range. It is generally stable across typical cosmetic pH ranges and is often paired with higher-HLB emulsifiers to tune emulsion structure and viscosity.
Last updated 2026-05-14