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Ceteareth-12

What Ceteareth-12 is & what it does

An ethoxylated fatty-alcohol emulsifier and surfactant, made by attaching a PEG chain to cetearyl alcohol. It helps blend the oil and water phases into a stable, even formula and lends a light, smooth feel.

What is Ceteareth-12 and what does it do in sunscreen?

Ceteareth-12 is a nonionic emulsifier. It blends the oil and water phases of a sunscreen into one stable, smooth lotion and keeps them from separating over time. It is made by attaching about 12 units of ethylene oxide to cetearyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol, which makes the waxy alcohol water-dispersible. It works on the surface of a formula rather than on the skin.

Is Ceteareth-12 safe?

Yes. It is a widely used, well-tolerated emulsifier reviewed as safe for use in cosmetics. Like other ethoxylated ingredients it can carry trace 1,4-dioxane from the manufacturing step, which reputable makers purify out. That is a contaminant, not the ingredient itself, and at the small amounts used in sunscreen it is non-irritating for most people.

Does Ceteareth-12 clog pores?

Generally no. It is treated as low on the comedogenicity scale and is not one of the classic pore-clogging culprits. It is an emulsifier used in small amounts, not a heavy oil or wax. If a sunscreen is breaking you out, the richer emollients and oils elsewhere in the formula are far more likely the cause.

Is Ceteareth-12 fungal-acne safe?

For most people it is fine, but those who are fungal-acne prone may prefer to avoid it. Ceteareth-12 is built on a fatty part that the malassezia yeast behind fungal acne can potentially use, which is why it shows up on feeder lists. This is one specific skin concern, not a general safety issue, so it is only worth avoiding if you personally react to fungal-acne triggers.

Is Ceteareth-12 natural?

No, it is synthetic. It starts from cetearyl alcohol, which is often plant-derived, but it is then ethoxylated in the lab, a man-made step. The finished emulsifier does not occur in nature, and that is fine for what it does.

Sunscreens with Ceteareth-12

We rate 131 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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