Laureth-3
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: Triethylene glycol monododecyl ether, 3055-94-5, Lauryltriglycol ether, Ethanol, Lauryl alcohol triglycol ether, Dodecyl triethylene glycol ether, 2-(2-(2-(Dodecyloxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol
Synthetic
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Plant Oil
Clean
Alcohols, C12-14, ethoxylated; 2-[2-[2-(dodecyloxy)ethoxy]ethoxy]ethanol
Effective at 10.0%
Formula
C18H38O4
Mol. Weight
318.50
CAS #
3055-94-5, 68439-50-9
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
Laureth compounds were developed in the mid-20th century as synthetic non-ionic surfactants derived from lauryl alcohol (a fatty alcohol from coconut or palm oil). They were created to replace natural soaps and provide gentle cleansing properties while maintaining stability in formulations.
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-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️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