Ceteareth-20
Reviewed by Rosie · Last updated 14 Aug 2026
Fatty (non-irritating) alcohol often used to thicken/enhance the texture of skin care formulas
EWG Safety Score
What Is Ceteareth-20?
Ceteareth-20 is a fatty (non-irritating) alcohol that plays various roles in skin care formulations. It can be used as a surfactant (cleansing agent) or to thicken/enhance the product’s consistency. It can also be used to help other ingredients in a formula solubilize and stay mixed together/stable, which contributes to efficacy.\n\nCeteareth-20 has a track record of safe use in cosmetics and is backed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. Their most recent report (at the time of this writing) looked at products containing up to 11% ceteareth-20.
Clinical Evidence & References
Published Research
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CosmeticsInfo.org, Accessed October 2021, ePublication CosmeticsInfo.org, 2021
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Journal of Functional Biomaterials, August 2020, ePublication Journal of Functional Biomaterials, 2020
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International Journal of Toxicology, 2012, pages 169S-244S International Journal of Toxicology, 2012
From the Clinic
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These appear on ingredients lists under different names but are the same substance. Ceteareth-20 is the common form.
Related Ingredients
Ceteareth-25
Fatty alcohol that functions as an emulsifier and surfactant
Ceteareth-12
A plant-derived emulsifier that stabilises skincare formulations
Ceteareth-22
A synthetic emulsifier that stabilises water and oil-based formulations
Ceteareth-3
An emulsifier that helps blend oil and water-based ingredients into stable formulations
Caprylyl Glyceryl Ether
A gentle surfactant that cleanses and stabilises foam in skincare formulations
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside
A gentle plant-derived cleanser that removes oil and impurities without harsh stripping
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