Is Laureth-23 safe in cosmetics?
Laureth-23 has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 1 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Laureth-23
Also known as: Ethoxylated C12-14 alcohols, Alcohols, C12-14(even numbered), ethoxylated, UNII-302740L8OX, UNII-93RY22U87E, UNII-G4H4YP2VNC (+4 more)
INCI: LAURETH-23
Laureth-23 (CAS 68439-50-9) is a cosmetic surfactant functioning as Surfactant, Emulsifying, Cleansing, Solubilizer. NOAEL 100 mg/kg bw/day (cross-referenced against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. 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 68439-50-9 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Laureth-23 is classified GHS Danger (H302, H318, H319, H400, H410, H412) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status; Chemicals: ghs_classifications.signal_word/hazard_statement_code
Function
Surfactant, Emulsifying, Cleansing, Solubilizer
Safety Rating
GOOD
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
CIR safe use ceiling: up to 6%. FDA VCRP: 218 formulations at ≤5%.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Laureth-23.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
1 study endpoint found for Laureth-23. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.
| Endpoint | Value | Route | Species | Study Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | =200 mg/kg bw/day | oral | Rabbit | developmental | ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID |
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Laureth-23 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
100,000 - 1,000,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Additional Ingredient Properties
4 property records from structured ingredient metadata.
emulsifier
{"cas_number": "9002-92-0", "ingredient_class": "O/W_emulsifier", "chemical_type": "ethoxylated_fatty_alcohol", "HLB_value": "12.2", "HLB_required_for_oil_phase": "10-14", "emulsion_type_primary": "O/W", "droplet_size_typical_um": "0.3-1", "critical_micelle_concentration_pct": "0.001-0.05", "surface_tension_reduction_mN_m": "31", "interfacial_tension_reduction": "35", "foam_formation": "high", "fo…
emulsion_hlb
{"hlb_value": "16.9", "hlb_required_as_emulsifier": "yes", "emulsifier_type": "o_w", "critical_packing_parameter": "0.18-0.28", "phase_inversion_temperature_c": "85-92", "emulsion_stabilization_mechanism": "steric_stabilization", "co_emulsifier_pairs": "none_required", "optimal_oil_phase_pct": "3-10", "optimal_water_phase_pct": "90-97", "electrolyte_tolerance": "low", "pH_emulsion_stability_range"…
solubility_hlb
{"water_soluble": "yes", "oil_soluble": "no", "hlb_value": "16.9", "soluble_in": "water, ethanol, propylene glycol", "insoluble_in": "oils", "log_p": "-0.5", "appearance": "white paste", "source": "Ineos"}
surfactant
{"cas_number": "9002-92-0", "surfactant_type": "nonionic", "chemical_class": "ethoxylate", "charge_at_use_ph": "neutral", "cmc_critical_micelle_concentration_mm": "0.02848228422342703", "hlb_value": "21.5", "foam_volume_ml_ross_miles": "75", "foam_quality": "airy", "foam_stability_5min_pct": "67", "cleansing_power_rating_1_to_10": "5.1448478279800405", "oil_emulsification_capacity": "good", "sebum…
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Cleaning agent
Dispersing agent
Emulsifier
Fragrance
Lubricating agent
Surfactant (surface active agent)
Wetting agent (non-aqueous)
Regulatory List Membership (2)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Laureth-23.
Regulatory Flags
NEW_REGULATION
epa_safer_alternative
ifra_fragrance
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Laureth-23 by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
1
Lowest NOAEL
200 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
200 mg/kg bw/day
ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID
Known Synonyms
Ethoxylated C12-14 alcohols
Alcohols, C12-14(even numbered), ethoxylated
UNII-302740L8OX
UNII-93RY22U87E
UNII-G4H4YP2VNC
UNII-M0LJS773XW
UNII-R66I1M1LNH
Genapol C 050
alcohols, C12C14, ethoxylated
Chemical Function
Surfactant (surface active agent)
Dispersing agent
Emulsifier
Fragrance
Regulatory Lists
Cleaning products and household care - oven - oven cleaner; Europe
Cleaning products and household care - oven - oven cleaner; Europe
IFRA Transparency
SCIL (9/2019)
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
fracking; water
Cleaning products and household care - laundry and fabric treatment - laundry detergent; Europe
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Laureth-23 allowed in the EU?
Laureth-23 EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Laureth-23 do in cosmetics?
Laureth-23 functions as: Surfactant, Emulsifying, Cleansing, Solubilizer. It is classified as a Surfactant in our database. CAS number: 68439-50-9.
What is the NOAEL for Laureth-23?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Laureth-23 is =200 mg/kg bw/day based on a developmental study via oral route in Rabbit. Source: ToxValDB_ECHA_IUCLID.
Is Laureth-23 used outside cosmetics?
Laureth-23 also appears in industrial chemical safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Does Laureth-23 have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Laureth-23 is classified GHS Danger (H302, H318, H319, H400, H410, H412) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Compliance Tools
Check Laureth-23 compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
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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