What is the CETEARETH-20 and what does it do?
Role: EMULSIFIANT
Family:
Comedogenic index: 2
CETEARETH-20 is an emulsifier that holds oil-loving and water-loving ingredients together. It stabilizes and thickens products.
Chemically speaking, it is ethoxylated cetearyl alcohol, which means that a little ethylene oxide is added to the fatty alcohol to increase the water-soluble part of the molecule. The result is that the fatty alcohol, mainly oil-soluble and emollient, is transformed into an emulsifier molecule that keeps oil and water mixed in creams.
The number in the name of Ceteareth emulsifiers refers to the average number of ethylene oxide molecules added, and 20 is a good emulsifier.
Find out more about "Inci" cosmetic ingredients