Ceteth-20

Ceteth-20 is a water-soluble, nonionic surfactant made by ethoxylating cetyl alcohol to an average of 20 EO units. It's used to emulsify oils into water, dissolve fragrance and some actives, and give a lighter skin feel with clean rinse-off.
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Ingredient Snapshot

Overview
Helps blend oils into water for a lighter, cleaner-feeling product.
Category
Emulsifying, Cleansing
Type
Emulsifier

Ingredient Ratings

Overall Rating

Good

Comedogenic Risk

None

Skin Benefits

Improves product lightness and spread, reducing filmy residue after use. Keeps fragrance and certain additives uniformly dispersed for consistent performance.

Uses In Skincare & Cosmetics

Found in facial cleansers, micellar waters, and makeup removers for a fresh, easy rinse. Also used in lightweight lotions and gel-cream moisturizers.

Comedogenic Rating

This ingredient is not typically evaluated for comedogenicity, and no standardized rating is available.

Safety

Typically low to moderate irritation risk, higher in leave-on uses or near eyes. Ethoxylated materials can contain trace residues, usually minimized by reputable suppliers. Patch testing is advisable for very sensitive skin.

Is Ceteth-20 a Good Ingredient?

Dependable PEG-based nonionic emulsifier/solubilizer with broad compatibility and pleasant aesthetics. A small subset may experience mild irritation, and quality manufacturing is needed to limit residual processing impurities. That mix of usefulness and tolerability lands it a Good rating rather than Great.

Products with Ceteth-20

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