Ceteareth-20

Ceteareth-20 is a cosmetic ingredient used as a cleansing, surfactant - emulsifying agent. It appears in about 2% of cosmetic products in our 90,000+ product dataset. It is regulated in the EU (listed in a Cosmetics Regulation annex). PubMed carries 47 studies of its skin or topical use.

INCI nameCETEARETH-20
FunctionCLEANSING, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING
CAS number68439-49-6
Prevalence1,542 products (1.66% of dataset)
Most used inSkincare
EU statusRestricted (annex )
Scientific studies47 on PubMed (skin/cosmetic/topical)
Monthly searches1,300

Used in

General Moisturizers 17.3%Body Lotions 11.6%Sunscreens 9%Serums 4.5%Lip Stains 4%Conditioners 3.8%

Frequently asked

What does Ceteareth-20 do in skincare?
Ceteareth-20 functions as a cleansing, surfactant - emulsifying agent in cosmetic formulas.
Is Ceteareth-20 allowed in cosmetics?
Yes, but it is regulated in the EU — it appears in a Cosmetics Regulation annex with usage conditions.
What products contain Ceteareth-20?
It is most commonly found in Skincare products, especially general moisturizers (17.3% of its uses).

Manufacturers with experience using Ceteareth-20

Match with vetted US contract manufacturers that have hands-on experience formulating with this ingredient.