Glycereth-26 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is used mainly as a water-binding humectant and slip modifier in skin, hair, and cleansing products. It can also help improve texture, reduce tack, and support solubilization in water-based formulas.
What does Glycereth-26 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is used mainly as a water-binding humectant and slip modifier in skin, hair, and cleansing products. It can also help improve texture, reduce tack, and support solubilization in water-based formulas.
Is Glycereth-26 clean?
It is generally well tolerated on skin, but clean-beauty frameworks often scrutinize ethoxylated materials because manufacturing can leave trace ethylene oxide or 1,4-dioxane if purification is weak. Brands that use it typically need strong impurity controls and supplier documentation.
Is Glycereth-26 sustainable?
This material is made from glycerin reacted with ethylene oxide, so its sourcing can include renewable glycerin plus petrochemical processing inputs. It is water soluble, but ethoxylated materials have mixed biodegradability profiles and are not a strong fit for low-impact formulation standards.
Is Glycereth-26 COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards because ethoxylation is not an allowed process for cosmetic ingredients in that framework. From a Green Chemistry view, its water solubility and low skin reactivity are positives, while petrochemical input, processing chemistry, and impurity-control needs are drawbacks.
How does Glycereth-26 work chemically?
The molecule is a glycerin-based polyether with an average of 26 oxyethylene units, giving it strong water affinity and a syrupy, nonionic character. It is typically stable across common cosmetic pH ranges and is often used in the low single digits to higher humectant levels, depending on the desired feel and hydration profile.
Last updated 2026-05-13