Surfactant ingredient
Steareth-21
A PEG-21 ether of stearyl alcohol functioning as an emulsifier in cosmetic creams and lotions.
emulsifiersurfactant
Benefits
- ✓Stabilizes oil-in-water emulsions with slightly higher HLB than Steareth-20
- ✓Improves consistency and skin feel of emulsions
Watch for
- ⚠May contain trace 1,4-dioxane as a manufacturing by-product of ethoxylation; purification steps can reduce levels (FDA recommends ≤10,000 ppb in cosmetics)
