Laureth-12 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a nonionic surfactant and solubilizer used to help disperse oils, fragrance components, and other low-water-solubility materials into water-based formulas. It can also support mild cleansing and emulsion stability.
What does Laureth-12 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a nonionic surfactant and solubilizer used to help disperse oils, fragrance components, and other low-water-solubility materials into water-based formulas. It can also support mild cleansing and emulsion stability.
Is Laureth-12 clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient has friction because it is made by ethoxylation, a process associated with possible residual ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane if purification is not well controlled. It is generally low in skin irritation at typical use levels, but many standards require impurity controls or do not accept it.
Is Laureth-12 sustainable?
This material is commonly derived from a fatty alcohol that may come from coconut, palm kernel, or petrochemical sources, then reacted with a petrochemical-derived oxide. It is generally biodegradable as an alcohol ethoxylate, but its sourcing and synthetic processing lower its sustainability fit versus simpler plant-derived surfactants.
Is Laureth-12 COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards because ethoxylated materials are not accepted. From a Green Chemistry view, it has some biodegradability advantages, but it relies on petrochemical processing and impurity management.
How does Laureth-12 work chemically?
The molecule is a fatty alcohol ether with an average chain of about 12 ethoxy units, giving it a relatively high hydrophilic-lipophilic balance suited to oil-in-water systems and solubilization. It is usually stable across common cosmetic pH ranges and is often used alongside anionic or amphoteric surfactants to tune foam, clarity, and mildness.
Last updated 2026-05-13