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Nonoxynol-120
AKA “Nonylphenol ethoxylate, Surfactant”
Ingredient
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Ingredient Facts
Nonoxynol-120
AKA: Nonylphenol ethoxylate, Surfactant
Ingredient · Skin Conditioning · EWG: 4
Synthetic
Skin Conditioner
Not Clean
Nonoxynol-120 is a cosmetic ingredient. Rated moderate hazard by EWG. Assessed as safe by the CIR.
Form
Liquid
See origin →
Functions
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Traditional Use
A synthetic non-ionic surfactant with very high polyethylene glycol content developed in the mid-20th century. Used in cosmetics for solubilization of oils and emulsification.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Caution
CIR Safety Findings
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Moderate Irritant
Regulatory Status
USA✔ permitted
CANADA✔ permitted
Regulatory Agencies
Organ-specific toxicity evaluation of stearamidopropyl dimethylamine (SAPDMA) surfactant using zebrafish embryos.
Al-Jamal O, Al-Jighefee H, Younes N, Abdin R, Al-Asmakh MA et al.
The Science of the total environment, 2020
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Coacervation in Cationic Polyelectrolyte Solutions with Anionic Amino Acid Surfactants.
Aramaki K, Shiozaki Y, Kosono S, Ikeda N
Journal of oleo science, 2020
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Coacervation in Cationic Polyelectrolyte Solutions with Anionic Amino Acid Surfactants.
Aramaki K, Shiozaki Y, Kosono S, Ikeda N
Journal of oleo science, 2020
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Biophysical characterization of skin damage and recovery after exposure to different surfactants.
Bárány E, Lindberg M, Lodén M
Contact dermatitis, 1999
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Biophysical characterization of skin damage and recovery after exposure to different surfactants.
Bárány E, Lindberg M, Lodén M
Contact dermatitis, 1999
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Assessment of primary eye and skin irritants by in vitro cytotoxicity and phototoxicity models: an in vitro approach of new arginine-based surfactant-
Benavides T, Mitjans M, Martínez V, Clapés P, Infante MR et al.
Toxicology, 2004
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Surfactant Adsorption to Different Fluid Interfaces.
Bergfreund J, Siegenthaler S, Lutz-Bueno V, Bertsch P, Fischer P
Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids, 2021
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Influence of Oil Polarity and Cosurfactants on the Foamability of Mono- and Diacylphosphatidylcholine Stabilized Emulsions.
Bunk M, Daniels R
Pharmaceutics, 2022
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Enhanced stability and skin permeation of ibuprofen-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles based binary solid lipid matrix: Effect of surfactant and lipid c
Chantaburanan T, Teeranachaideekul V, Jintapattanakit A, Chantasart D, Junyaprasert VB
International journal of pharmaceutics: X, 2023
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Irritant and sensitizing potential of eight surfactants commonly used in skin cleansers: an evaluation of 105 patients.
Corazza M, Lauriola MM, Bianchi A, Zappaterra M, Virgili A
Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug, 2010
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Irritant and sensitizing potential of eight surfactants commonly used in skin cleansers: an evaluation of 105 patients.
Corazza M, Lauriola MM, Bianchi A, Zappaterra M, Virgili A
Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug, 2010
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Irritant and sensitizing potential of eight surfactants commonly used in skin cleansers: an evaluation of 105 patients.
Corazza M, Lauriola MM, Bianchi A, Zappaterra M, Virgili A
Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug, 2010
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Irritant and sensitizing potential of eight surfactants commonly used in skin cleansers: an evaluation of 105 patients.
Corazza M, Lauriola MM, Bianchi A, Zappaterra M, Virgili A
Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug, 2010
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Interleukin-1 production after treatment with non-ionic surfactants in a murine keratinocytes cell line.
Corsini E, Marinovich M, Marabini L, Chiesara E, Galli CL
Toxicology in vitro : an international journal published in association with BIBRA, 1994
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Mild but effective skin cleansing-Evaluation of laureth-23 as a primary surfactant.
Dick A, Stolz HJ, Sonsmann FK
International journal of cosmetic science, 2024
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Mild but effective skin cleansing-Evaluation of laureth-23 as a primary surfactant.
Dick A, Stolz HJ, Sonsmann FK
International journal of cosmetic science, 2024
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Mild but effective skin cleansing-Evaluation of laureth-23 as a primary surfactant.
Dick A, Stolz HJ, Sonsmann FK
International journal of cosmetic science, 2024
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Influence of surfactant on the thermal behavior of marigold oil emulsions with liquid crystal phases.
dos Santos OD, da Rocha-Filho PA
Drug development and industrial pharmacy, 2007
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Development, Characterization and Skin Interaction of Capsaicin-Loaded Microemulsion-Based Nonionic Surfactant.
Duangjit S, Chairat W, Opanasopit P, Rojanarata T, Panomsuk S et al.
Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin, 2016
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Nonoxynol-120
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
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Development of an Auraptene-Loaded Transdermal Formulation Using Non-ionic Sugar Ester Surfactants.
Flores KA, Okada A, Arce F Jr, See GL, Itakura S et al.
Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin, 2024
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Interactions of C12 surfactants with the skin: studies on enzyme release and percutaneous absorption in vitro.
Gibson WT, Teall MR
Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association, 1983
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The surfactant Dioctyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate (DOSS) exposure causes adverse effects in embryos and adults of zebrafish (Danio rerio).
González-Penagos CE, Zamora-Briseño JA, Améndola-Pimenta M, Pérez-Vega JA, Montero-Muñoz J et al.
Toxicology and applied pharmacology, 2022
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Epidemiology and Co-Reactivity of Novel Surfactant Allergens: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Study.
Grey KR, Hanson JL, Hagen SL, Hylwa SA, Warshaw EM
Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug, 2016
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Epidemiology and Co-Reactivity of Novel Surfactant Allergens: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Study.
Grey KR, Hanson JL, Hagen SL, Hylwa SA, Warshaw EM
Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug, 2016
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Epidemiology and Co-Reactivity of Novel Surfactant Allergens: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Study.
Grey KR, Hanson JL, Hagen SL, Hylwa SA, Warshaw EM
Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug, 2016
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Epidemiology and Co-Reactivity of Novel Surfactant Allergens: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Study.
Grey KR, Hanson JL, Hagen SL, Hylwa SA, Warshaw EM
Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug, 2016
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Reaction to cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, an amphoteric surfactant and conditioner.
Guin JD
Contact dermatitis, 2000
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The Effect of Alkyl Chain Number in Sucrose Surfactant on the Physical Properties of Quercetin-Loaded Deformable Nanoliposome and Its Effect on In Vit
Hong IK, Ha JH, Han S, Kang H, Park SN
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland), 2018
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Hydrogel Formation by Glutamic-acid-based Organogelator Using Surfactant-mediated Gelation.
Ikeda N, Aramaki K
Journal of oleo science, 2022
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The influence of surfactants and hydrolyzed proteins on keratinocytes viability and elasticity.
Kobiela T, Lelen-Kaminska K, Stepulak M, Lekka M, Malejczyk M et al.
Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging (ISSI), 2013
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Role of architecture of N-oxide surfactants in the design of nanoemulsions for Candida skin infection.
Lewińska A, Jaromin A, Jezierska J
Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2020
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Using Microemulsion as Carrier for Drug Transdermal Delivery: The Effect of Surfactants and Cosurfactants.
Lu IJ, Fu YS, Chang WY, Wu PC
Current pharmaceutical design, 2019
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Transdermal absorption of natural progesterone from alcoholic gel formulations with hydrophilic surfactant.
Matsui R, Ueda O, Uchida S, Namiki N
Drug development and industrial pharmacy, 2015
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Optimizing interactions between soluble silk fibroin and capryl glucoside for design of a natural and high-performance co-surfactant system.
Maxwell R, Costache MC, Giarrosso A, Bosques C, Amin S
International journal of cosmetic science, 2021
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Morphological study of cationic polymer-anionic surfactant complex precipitated in solution during the dilution process.
Miyake M, Kakizawa Y
Journal of cosmetic science, 2010
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Effect of oil phase lipophilicity on in vitro drug release from o/w microemulsions with low surfactant content.
Montenegro L, Carbone C, Condorelli G, Drago R, Puglisi G
Drug development and industrial pharmacy, 2006
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Comparing Surfactant Penetration into Human Skin and Resulting Skin Dryness Using In Vivo and Ex Vivo Methods.
Morris SA, McCardy N, Thompson R, Allen T, Altemeier A et al.
Journal of cosmetic science, 2019
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Surfactant Penetration into Human Skin from Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate and Lauramidopropyl Betaine Mixtures.
Morris SAV, Xu L, Ananthapadmanabhan KP, Kasting GB
Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids, 2021
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Structure and performance of cationic assembly dispersed in amphoteric surfactants solution as a shampoo for hair damaged by coloring.
Nagahara Y, Nishida Y, Isoda M, Yamagata Y, Nishikawa N et al.
Journal of oleo science, 2007
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Allergic contact dermatitis due to nonylphenol ethoxylate (nonoxynol-6).
Nethercott JR, Lawrence MJ
Contact dermatitis, 1984
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Biocompatible lecithin-based microemulsions with rhamnolipid and sophorolipid biosurfactants: formulation and potential applications.
Nguyen TT, Edelen A, Neighbors B, Sabatini DA
Journal of colloid and interface science, 2010
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Design and Characterization of Silicone and Surfactant Based Systems for Topical Drug Delivery.
Oyafuso MH, Carvalho FC, Chiavacci LA, Gremião MP, Chorilli M
Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology, 2015
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Design and Characterization of Silicone and Surfactant Based Systems for Topical Drug Delivery.
Oyafuso MH, Carvalho FC, Chiavacci LA, Gremião MP, Chorilli M
Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology, 2015
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Influences of added surfactants on the water solubility and antibacterial activity of rosemary extract.
Park S, Mun S, Kim YR
Food science and biotechnology, 2020
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Influences of added surfactants on the water solubility and antibacterial activity of rosemary extract.
Park S, Mun S, Kim YR
Food science and biotechnology, 2020
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Fatty acid sulphoalkyl amides and esters as cosmetic surfactants.
Petter PJ
International journal of cosmetic science, 1984
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Fatty acid sulphoalkyl amides and esters as cosmetic surfactants.
Petter PJ
International journal of cosmetic science, 1984
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The History of Surfactants and Review of Their Allergic and Irritant Properties.
Presley CL, Militello M, Barber C, Ladd R, Laughter M et al.
Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug, 2021
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Structure and rheology of semisolid o/w creams containing cetyl alcohol/non-ionic surfactant mixed emulsifier and different polymers.
Ribeiro HM, Morais JA, Eccleston GM
International journal of cosmetic science, 2004
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Polyglycerol fatty acid ester surfactant-based microemulsions for targeted delivery of ceramide AP into the stratum corneum: formulation, characterisa
Sahle FF, Metz H, Wohlrab J, Neubert RH
European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics : official journal of Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Pharmazeutische Verfahrenstechnik e.V, 2012
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Characterization and cytotoxicity assessment of biosurfactant derived from Lactobacillus pentosus NCIM 2912.
Sharma V, Singh D, Manzoor M, Banpurkar AG, Satpute SK et al.
Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology], 2022
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Antimicrobial Nanoparticles Composed of Zein and Arginine-Phenylalanine-Based Surfactants for Wound Related Infections: Antioxidant and Skin-Related A
Sousa FFO, Hafidi Z, García MT, Moran MDC, Vazquez S et al.
Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland), 2024
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Method for Simultaneous Determination of Amino Acid Surfactants Sodium N-Lauroylsarcosinate and Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate in Personal Care Products
Thangarathinam K, Narayanan U
Journal of chromatographic science, 2025
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Method for Simultaneous Determination of Amino Acid Surfactants Sodium N-Lauroylsarcosinate and Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate in Personal Care Products
Thangarathinam K, Narayanan U
Journal of chromatographic science, 2025
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Effects of temperature, surfactants and skin location on the dermal penetration of haloacetonitriles and chloral hydrate.
Trabaris M, Laskin JD, Weisel CP
Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology, 2012
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Prevalence of Surfactant in the Contact Allergen Management Program.
Weinhammer AP, Scheman A, Reeder MJ
Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug, 2019
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Surfactant-induced skin irritation and skin repair. Evaluation of the acute human irritation model by noninvasive techniques.
Wilhelm KP, Freitag G, Wolff HH
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1994
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Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR