Ceteareth-22
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: PEG-22 Cetearyl Ether
Plant-Derived
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Plant Oil
Clean
C16-18 alcohols, ethoxylated (22 mol EO average molar ratio)
Effective at 8.02%
CAS #
68439-49-6
Form
Liquid
Functions
Cleansing
Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.
Emulsifying
Forces oil and water to stay mixed instead of separating into layers. The unsung hero holding your lotion together.
Viscosity Controlling
Cleansing Surfactant
Emulsifier
Controls Viscosity
Lifts away dirt and oil
Mixes oil and water
Controls product thickness
Traditional Use
Developed in the mid-20th century as a synthetic ethoxylated emulsifier derived from cetearyl alcohol. Created to stabilize oil-water mixtures in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, with no traditional use history.
EWG
2
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
ewg-2
medical-approval
pregnancy-nursing-safe
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
0.03%
16.0%
0%22%
Reported use
CIR reported use: 0.03-16 | 0.09-0.3
Regulatory Agencies
Skin Types
●all-skin-types, gentle
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewednone on file
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed3 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR