Ceteareth-23
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: Ceteareth 23, Cetyl and stearyl alcohol ethoxylate
Plant-Derived
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Plant Oil
Not Clean
C16-18 alcohols, ethoxylated (23 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.
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.
Removes Impurities
Cleansing Surfactant
Emulsifier
Mixes Oil & Water
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
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
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
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewednone on file
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed2 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR