Is Ceteareth-20 safe in cosmetics?
Ceteareth-20 has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Good
Cosmetic Ingredient
Ceteareth-20
Also known as: Alcohols, C16-18, ethoxylated, Ethoxylated fatty alcohols (C16-18), Cetomacrogolum, UNII-8FA93U5T67, UNII-7V4MR24V5P (+15 more)
INCI: CETEARETH-20
Ceteareth-20 (CAS 68439-49-6) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Emulsifier (O/W). NOAEL 800 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted, max 10%. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 68439-49-6 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Emulsifier (O/W)
Safety Rating
GOOD
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
EU Max Conc.
10%
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Not listed among prohibited or restricted ingredients under 21 CFR 700. Permitted for cosmetic use based on manufacturer safety substantiation. No GRAS determination applicable — Ceteareth-20 is an inactive ingredient/excipient. May be used as an inactive ingredient in OTC drug products when appropriately formulated. Subject to general safety requirements under 21 CFR 700.13. FDA does not require premarket approval for cosmetic ingredients other than color additives.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Ceteareth-20.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Ceteareth-20 across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
10,000 - 100,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Typical Use Concentrations
Reported concentration ranges per product category from SCCS/CIR/industry sources.
| Product Category | Typical Range | Max Reported | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face Cream | 1–3 | 8 | CIR/VCRP |
| Body Lotion | 1–3 | 8 | CIR/VCRP |
Additional Ingredient Properties
10 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
comedogenicity_detail
{"comedogenicity_rating": "2", "irritancy_rating": "1", "skin_type_suitability": "dry,combination,normal", "acne_safe": "caution", "source": "Emulsifier"}
concentration
{"min_concentration_pct": "1.0", "max_concentration_pct": "5.0", "typical_concentration_pct": "3.0", "product_type": "Body Lotion", "function_at_concentration": "Emulsifier", "source": "CIR Safety Assessment"}
ecotoxicity
{"biodegradable": "partial", "biodegradation_days": "120-240", "bioaccumulative": "yes", "aquatic_toxicity_level": "low", "coral_reef_safe": "unknown", "marine_toxicity": "low-moderate toxicity", "freshwater_toxicity": "moderate persistence", "endocrine_disruptor": "no", "persistent_organic_pollutant": "no", "microplastic": "no", "nano_particle": "no", "hawaii_banned": "no", "eu_restricted_environ…
emulsifier
{"cas_number": "68439-49-6", "ingredient_class": "O/W_emulsifier", "chemical_type": "ethoxylated_fatty_alcohol", "HLB_value": "7.3", "HLB_required_for_oil_phase": "5-9", "emulsion_type_primary": "O/W", "droplet_size_typical_um": "0.5-2", "critical_micelle_concentration_pct": "0.001-0.05", "surface_tension_reduction_mN_m": "27", "interfacial_tension_reduction": "32", "foam_formation": "moderate", "…
hair_care
{"hair_function": "conditioning", "hair_type_suitability": "all", "curl_pattern_suitability": "all", "porosity_suitability": "all", "protein_sensitivity": "neutral", "moisture_protein_balance": "yes", "cg_method_approved": "not-a-silicone", "silicone_type": "not-a-sulfate", "sulfate_type": "no", "drying_alcohol": "no", "fatty_alcohol": "no", "heat_protectant": "yes", "color_safe": "neutral", "kera…
pediatric_safety
{"safe_for_newborn_0_6m": "caution", "safe_for_infant_6_12m": "yes", "safe_for_toddler_1_3y": "yes", "safe_for_child_3_12y": "yes", "safe_for_teen_12_18y": "yes", "pediatric_max_concentration_pct": "5.0", "adult_max_concentration_pct": "5.0", "pediatric_dermal_absorption_factor": "moderate", "immature_skin_barrier_risk": "low", "oral_ingestion_risk": "low", "eye_irritation_risk": "low", "diaper_ar…
pregnancy_detail
{"pregnancy_safe": "yes", "breastfeeding_safe": "yes", "risk_category": "not-rated", "reason": "Safe; emulsifier (note: ethoxylated, 1,4-dioxane trace concern)", "source": "dermatology literature"}
regulatory
{"eu_status": "allowed", "us_status": "allowed"}
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Anti-scaling agent
Cleaning agent
Dispersing agent
Emulsifier
Lubricating agent
Solubility enhancer
Stabilizing agent
Surface modifier
Surfactant (surface active agent)
Thickening agent
Regulatory List Membership (3)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
EU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Ceteareth-20.
Regulatory Flags
avoid-damaged-skin
1,4-dioxane-impurity-risk
penetration-enhancer
PEG-derived
eu_children_restricted
epa_safer_alternative
Known Synonyms
Alcohols, C16-18, ethoxylated
Ethoxylated fatty alcohols (C16-18)
Cetomacrogolum
UNII-8FA93U5T67
UNII-7V4MR24V5P
UNII-1R9DCZ5FOX
UNII-R42C2O714B
UNII-YRC528SWUY
UNII-867H4YOZ8Z
UNII-H11625KU5F
UNII-2RJS3559D3
UNII-0A92O98YL9
UNII-28VZG1E234
UNII-2AAD28764Q
UNII-4W0XA5SY57
UNII-788S3R02S3
UNII-821KR82QH3
UNII-821RF3P03C
UNII-DK070R75PW
UNII-FJV4K0Y9C0
Chemical Function
Surfactant (surface active agent)
Emulsifier
Stabilizing agent
Regulatory Lists
SCIL (9/2019)
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care - general moisturizing - hand/body lotion
children; Europe; Personal care
children; Europe; Personal care - general moisturizing - hand/body lotion
Europe; Personal care
Europe; Personal care
active_ingredient; Pesticides
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ceteareth-20 allowed in the EU?
Ceteareth-20 EU regulatory status: permitted. Maximum allowed concentration: 10%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Ceteareth-20 do in cosmetics?
Ceteareth-20 functions as: Emulsifier (O/W). It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 68439-49-6.
Is Ceteareth-20 used outside cosmetics?
Ceteareth-20 also appears in industrial chemical safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Ceteareth-20 compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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