Laureth-12
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: PEG-12 Lauryl ether, LIPOCOL L-12, DODECAETHYLENE MONODODECYL ETHER, DODECAETHYLENEGLYCOL DODECYL ETHER
Synthetic
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Plant Oil
Clean
3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24,27,30,33,36-Dodecaoxaoctatetracontan-1-ol
Effective at 10.0%
Formula
C36H74O13
Mol. Weight
715.00
CAS #
3056-00-6, 9002-92-0
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.
Cleansing Surfactant
Emulsifier
Removes Impurities
Mixes Oil & Water
Traditional Use
Mild non-ionic surfactant with approximately 12 ethylene oxide units, created mid-20th century for gentle cleansing formulations. Commonly used in baby shampoos and sensitive skin products due to reduced irritancy compared to earlier anionic surfactants.
EWG
2
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
0.0004%
20.0%
0%28%
Reported use
CIR reported use: 7-15 | 0.005-9 | 0.0004-20 | 6-8 | 0.001-4
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: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR