Isosteareth-16

AKA: Polyoxyethylene isostearyl ether, PEG-16 isostearyl ether

Plant-Derived

Cleanser

Not Clean

Isosteareth-16 is a cosmetic ingredient used as cleansing, surfactant - cleansing. Assessed as safe by the CIR.

Effective at 11.51%

CAS #

-

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.

Removes Impurities

Cleansing Surfactant

Traditional Use

A polyethylene glycol ether of isostearyl alcohol developed as a modern emulsifier and surfactant. Used in contemporary cosmetics to create stable and mild cleansing products.

EWG

CIR

Safe as used

Pregnancy

Yes

Restricted By

Credo Beauty Whole Foods Premium Body Care Beauty Heroes MADE SAFE EWG VERIFIED

CIR Safety Findings

Not a Sensitizer

medical-approval

all-shades-safe

Concentration Guide

0.02%

23.0%

0%32%

Reported use

CIR reported use: 18-23 | 0.02-0.4 | 0.2-1

Regulatory Status

USA✔ permitted

EU⚠ restricted

JAPAN⚠ restricted

CANADA⚠ restricted

Regulatory Agencies

EWG CIR FDA EU COSING Health Canada

Skin Types

●all-skin-types

Best For

General

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe

Yes

The paper trail

🔬Peer-reviewednone on file

⚖️Regulatory1 listing →

🛡️Safety-assessed1 review →

Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.

Verified Jun 2026

Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR