Glycereth-7 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is used mainly as a water-soluble humectant and solvent, helping keep formulas hydrated while improving slip and the dispersion of other water-compatible materials.
What does Glycereth-7 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is used mainly as a water-soluble humectant and solvent, helping keep formulas hydrated while improving slip and the dispersion of other water-compatible materials.
Is Glycereth-7 clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is usually well tolerated on skin, but its ethoxylated production route creates scrutiny around potential trace residues such as 1,4-dioxane and unreacted ethylene oxide. Brands using it generally rely on supplier purification and residue testing to address that issue.
Is Glycereth-7 sustainable?
This material is typically made from a glycerol starting point plus petrochemical-derived ethylene oxide, so its sourcing is only partly bio-based. It is water soluble and not expected to bioaccumulate, but ethoxylated materials have weaker Green Chemistry alignment than simpler plant-derived humectants.
Is Glycereth-7 COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS natural or organic standards because ethoxylated ingredients are excluded. Its Green Chemistry profile is limited by petrochemical input and added processing, even though the material is functional at low levels and generally has a modest skin-sensitization profile.
How does Glycereth-7 work chemically?
The molecule is a glycerol backbone extended with an average of seven oxyethylene units, giving it strong water compatibility and humectant-solvent behavior. It is generally stable across typical cosmetic pH ranges and is used in aqueous systems, gels, cleansers, and emulsions where it can support skin feel, solubilization, and moisture retention.
Last updated 2026-05-13