Steareth-10 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a nonionic emulsifier and solubilizer that helps disperse oils and fragrance components in water-based formulas. It can also support mild cleansing and improve texture in lotions, creams, and hair products.
What does Steareth-10 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a nonionic emulsifier and solubilizer that helps disperse oils and fragrance components in water-based formulas. It can also support mild cleansing and improve texture in lotions, creams, and hair products.
Is Steareth-10 clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it has friction because it is made through ethoxylation, a process associated with possible trace ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane residues if not tightly purified. It is generally well tolerated, but some standards flag the manufacturing route rather than the finished molecule.
Is Steareth-10 sustainable?
This material is typically made from a fatty alcohol that may be plant- or petroleum-derived, combined with petrochemical ethylene oxide. It is expected to biodegrade better than silicone or fluorinated film-formers, but its fossil input and wastewater quality controls keep its sustainability profile mixed.
Is Steareth-10 COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted in COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic formulas because ethoxylated materials are outside the standard’s allowed chemistry. In Green Chemistry terms, its useful performance and likely biodegradability are offset by petrochemical input and residue-control needs.
How does Steareth-10 work chemically?
The molecule is a nonionic surfactant with a C18 hydrophobe and an average chain of 10 oxyethylene units, giving an HLB around 12 to 13 and favoring oil-in-water emulsions. Typical use levels are often about 0.5 to 5% depending on emulsification or solubilizing needs, and it is generally stable across common cosmetic pH ranges when paired with compatible thickeners, co-emulsifiers, and preservatives.
Last updated 2026-05-13