Ceteth-10
What Ceteth-10 is & what it does
Ceteth-10 is a polyethylene glycol ether of cetyl alcohol, with the number indicating roughly ten units of ethylene oxide. In skincare and sunscreen products it functions mainly as a nonionic surfactant and emulsifier, helping oil and water phases blend into a stable cream or lotion. It can also act as a solubilizer for fragrances and oils.
What does Ceteth-10 do in skincare?
Ceteth-10 is a nonionic surfactant and emulsifier made from cetyl alcohol and ethylene oxide. In creams, lotions, and sunscreens it helps the oil and water phases mix into a stable, smooth product. It can also help dissolve oils and fragrances into a formula.
Is Ceteth-10 safe?
Ceteth-10 is commonly used as an emulsifier in cosmetics and is generally considered safe at the concentrations used in finished products. Like many surfactants, very high amounts could be irritating, but formulas are designed to stay within tolerated levels. This is general information, not medical advice.
Is Ceteth-10 natural or synthetic?
Ceteth-10 is a synthetic ingredient. It is made by reacting cetyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol, with ethylene oxide to create a water-compatible emulsifier. Even when the cetyl alcohol is plant-derived, the ethoxylation step makes the final ingredient a processed, synthetic material.
Sunscreens with Ceteth-10
We rate 16 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:
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Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily Uv Defense Aqua Gel Spf 50 Pa++++
94/100
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Acwell Dermild Fresh Sun Control Essence Spf 50
90/100
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L'Oreal UV Perfect Super Aqua Essence SPF 50, PA++++
89/100
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Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel
88/100
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Histoire Naturelle Moisture Daily Sun Lotion Spf 50+
86/100
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SAM'U pH Sensitive Suncream
84/100
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SKINRx LAB Madecera Cream Waterful Sun Up Plus SPF50+/PA++++
83/100
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L'Oreal Paris Aqua Essence UV Perfect Sunscreen SPF 50
83/100
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L'Oreal Paris Uv Perfect Aqua Essence Spf 50
83/100
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hyggee Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA++++
81/100