Steareth-20

The Basics On Steareth-20

What is Steareth-20?

Derived from the benign fatty ingredient stearyl alcohol.

What are other names for Steareth-20?

PEG-20 STEARYL ETHER, POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 1000 STEARYL ETHER, POLYOXYETHYLENE (20) STEARYL ETHER, and STEARETH-20

What is Steareth-20 used for?

Steareth-20 is added to cosmetics and personal care products because it functions as a cleansing agent, a surfactant, and an emulsifier. … In skin care products, surfactants work to degrease and emulsify oils and fats and suspend soil, allowing them to be washed away.

How Steareth-20 is classified

Cleansing Agents

Recommendations for using Steareth-20 during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Limited data suggests no known risk

 

Steareth-20 During Pregnancy

What we know about using Steareth-20 while pregnant or breastfeeding

Limited information available.

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General safety info about Steareth-20 from CIR

The steareth group is a series of compounds prepared by reacting stearyl alcohol with ethylene oxide to form polyoxyethylene stearyl ethers. Steareths are waxy solids used primarily as emulsifiers in cosmetics at concentrations of up to 25%. Steareth-2 and-10 were nontoxic to rats in acute oral toxicity studies. In subchronic testing, steareth-20 was nontoxic to rabbits when administered dermally at concentrations of 4%. Steareth-2 and-10, at concentrations of up to 60% in water, were at most mildly irritating to rabbit eyes and only mild irritants when tested in cosmetic formulations at concentrations of up to 60%. Structurally similar polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers were neither mutagenic nor tumor promoters. Steareth-2,-10, and-20 in water were neither primary irritants nor sensitizers to human skin. Steareth-20 was not phototoxic. On the basis of the available data it is concluded that steareths-2,-4,-6,-7,-10,-11,-13,-15, and-20 are safe as cosmetic ingredients in the present practices of use and concentration.

Use this, not that!

Products where you might find Steareth-20

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