Laureth-7 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a nonionic surfactant and emulsifier used to help oils, fragrances, and waxy materials disperse into water-based formulas. It also supports mild cleansing and improves texture in creams, gels, shampoos, and makeup removers.
What does Laureth-7 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a nonionic surfactant and emulsifier used to help oils, fragrances, and waxy materials disperse into water-based formulas. It also supports mild cleansing and improves texture in creams, gels, shampoos, and makeup removers.
Is Laureth-7 clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient has friction because it is made through ethoxylation, a process associated with trace residual impurities that require tight purification and testing. It is generally considered low-irritation at typical use levels, but many clean standards scrutinize or restrict this ingredient class.
Is Laureth-7 sustainable?
This material is typically made from a fatty alcohol source combined with petrochemical-derived ethylene oxide, so its sourcing can be partly plant-based and partly fossil-derived. It is generally biodegradable, but its manufacturing route and impurity-control requirements weaken its sustainability profile.
Is Laureth-7 COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards because ethoxylated materials are outside the standard’s allowed chemistry. From a Green Chemistry perspective, it has some biodegradability advantages, but reliance on ethoxylation and nonrenewable inputs limits alignment.
How does Laureth-7 work chemically?
The molecule is a nonionic fatty ether with a hydrophobic alkyl chain and an average of seven oxyethylene units, giving it oil-solubilizing and water-dispersing behavior. It is typically stable across common cosmetic pH ranges and is often used with other surfactants or emulsifiers to tune foam, viscosity, and emulsification performance.
Last updated 2026-05-13