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Common Name(s): Ppg-10-ceteareth-20,peg-20-ppg-10 cetearyl ether,cetearyl peg/ppg-20/10 ether
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Helps oil and water blend in creams and lotions while providing skin conditioning.
Why It's Used: Combines ppg-10 and peg-20 with cetearyl alcohol to create a multi-block ether surfactant with balanced hlb (~11โ13) for o/w emulsification.
How It Works: Ppg-10 block provides intermediate polarity anchor; peg-20 block provides hydrophilicity; cetearyl c16/c18 chain provides lipophilicity and emolliency; hlb ~11โ13 for o/w emulsification.
Typically Found In: O/w emulsions,creams,lotions,skin conditioning products
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Functional ingredient โ emulsifier
Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning,surfactant,emollient
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.5%โ5%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Conditional
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Cetearyl alcohol from coconut/palm; peg/ppg from petrochemical; semi-natural.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 1/5 โ low
Sensitivity Concerns: Generally well tolerated.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Good safety profile. ewg score: 1โ2.
Works Well With: Emollients,humectants,other peg/ppg emulsifiers,fatty alcohols
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Ppg-10-ceteareth-20 is a triblock-type amphiphile with a hydrophobic ppg anchor, lipophilic cetearyl chain, and hydrophilic peg-20 tail; this architecture provides enhanced emulsion stability versus standard ceteareth-20 alone.
Last Verified: Cosing database,inci dictionary
Primary Sources: 2026-03-27