Ingredient guide ›

Ceteareth 20

The mixer.

What it does

An emulsifier made from fatty alcohols. It helps oil and water blend into creams and hair dyes.

Good to know

Part of the PEG family. A safety review found PEG ingredients cause little irritation and rarely trigger allergy on healthy skin. Most reported reactions involved broken or inflamed skin.

Often found in: Body lotions, Hair dyes, Sunscreens, Hand creams

Around the world

• United States: No FDA limit. The FDA doesn't approve cosmetic ingredients before sale. Source
• EU and UK: No special limit in the EU or UK. Source
• Canada: Not on Health Canada's Hotlist of restricted ingredients. Source
• Australia: No limit in Australia's Poisons Standard. Source

Sources

• Safety assessment on polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and their derivatives as used in cosmetic products (Toxicology, 2005) (Independent)
• CIR: Safety Assessment of Alkyl PEG Ethers as Used in Cosmetics (2012) (Industry-funded)