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Ceteareth-33

What Ceteareth-33 is & what it does

Ceteareth-33 is a synthetic ethoxylated fatty alcohol made by reacting cetearyl alcohol with about 33 units of ethylene oxide. In sunscreens and skincare it functions as a nonionic surfactant and emulsifier, helping oil and water phases blend into a stable, uniform cream or lotion. Its high degree of ethoxylation makes it water-dispersible and useful for building smooth, stable emulsions.

What does Ceteareth-33 do in skincare?

It functions as a nonionic surfactant and emulsifier. By helping oil and water blend, Ceteareth-33 keeps creams and lotions stable and uniform, and its high ethoxylation makes it water-dispersible for smooth emulsions.

Is Ceteareth-33 natural or synthetic?

It is synthetic. The ingredient is made by reacting cetearyl alcohol with ethylene oxide, a chemical process that produces this ethoxylated emulsifier.

Is Ceteareth-33 safe?

Ceteareth-type emulsifiers are widely used in cosmetics and are generally considered well tolerated in finished, properly formulated products. As with any surfactant, individual skin can react differently, so patch testing is sensible for sensitive skin. This is general information and not medical advice.

Sunscreens with Ceteareth-33

We rate 7 sunscreens that contain it:

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