This compound is an ingredient of most cosmetic products such as shampoos, lotions, creams, self-tanners and many others. Moreover, it belongs to the ingredients of toilet cleansers. A number of advantages of Ceteareth-25, such as chemical resistance or compatibility with other surfactants, make it a popular choice among formulators from industrial sectors.
Ceteareth-25 is a non-ionic surfactant, which is a mixture of cetyl and stearyl alcohols ethoxylated with 25 moles of ethylene oxide. The full chemical name of Ceteareth-25 is C16-18 alcohols, ethoxylated. The specific numerical designation that uniquely identifies chemical compounds, the CAS number, for Ceteareth-25 is 68439-49-6. This compound can be obtained from natural raw materials.
The physical and chemical properties of Ceteareth-25:
The main application of Ceteareth-25, among others in cosmetics, is primarily based on its emulsifying properties. This is due to the structure of the molecule typical for surfactants. The vast majority of cosmetics have the form of an emulsion. This is the effect of the presence of a significant amount of ingredients of different chemical characteristics in the composition of the cosmetic formulation. The Ceteareth-25 molecule, containing both a hydrophilic moiety (interacting strongly with water molecules) and a hydrophobic moiety (showing affinity for the oil phase), align at the phase boundary and, by reducing the surface tension, enable the combination of two immiscible phases (the water phase and the oil phase). Due to its strong hydrophilic nature, Ceteareth-25 is perfect for creating oil-in-water emulsions. Due to its very good emulsifying properties, it can be used for the preparation of emulsions at room temperature. This is especially important in the case of active substances that are not very resistant to high temperatures.
As a surfactant, Ceteareth-25 is an ingredient in cosmetic products with cleaning properties. It effectively removes impurities and dirt from the surface of the skin and hair. The particles of this surfactant surround the contaminants, which detach from the cleaned surface and are then washed away.
In cosmetics, Ceteareth-25 is an effective foaming agent. In addition, it is responsible for the stabilization of foam and improves its quality in a mixture with anionic surfactants.
Another role of this surfactant is to modify the rheological properties in formulations containing anionic surfactants by creating so-called mixed micelles. The modification of rheological properties is the change in the viscosity of the product. Achieving the desired value of the viscosity of the cosmetic formulation allows for obtaining the right consistency, which will ensure good performance characteristics and stability of the product. Changing the rheological properties of the cosmetic improves its consistency.
As a solubilizer, Ceteareth-25 enables the incorporation of hardly soluble or water-insoluble ingredients into an aqueous solution, such as fatty substances, plant extracts or fragrances, which constitute an integral part of every cosmetic.
Ceteareth-25 has a strong softening, moisturising and conditioning effect thanks to the properties typical for emollients. It reduces the itching and peeling of skin. It maintains the level of moisture at the right level by creating an occlusive layer on the surface of the hair and skin, which prevents excessive evaporation of water.
Apart from its main application in the cosmetics industry, this compound plays also an important role in detergents. It is used as one of the ingredients in toilet tabs, also those that do not require plastic hangers.
