Steareth-2

The details

Steareth-2 is a waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients. It is created from polyethylene glycol and stearyl alcohol . The 2 stands for the number of ethylene oxide units used to create this ingredient. Due to the low degree of ethoxylation, the molecule stays mostly oil-loving. That's why you'll often see it paired with water-loving steareth-20 or steareth-21 to create elegant emulsions. In testing, this ingredient was nontoxic in acute oral studies and not a skin irritant or sensitizer. You might hear concerns about 1,4-dioxane as a byproduct of ethoxylation; this is well-known in the industry and is controlled through purification steps before the ingredient is blended into finished products.

Found in (2 products)

Olay

Complete All Day Moisturizer Sensitive Skin SPF 15

Day Moisturizers

Oil-freeAlcohol-freeParaben-free+4

SkinBetter Science

AlphaRet Overnight Cream

Night Moisturizers

Oil-freeReef safeAlcohol-free+4