Hydrogenated laneth-20 (inci)

Hydrogenated laneth-20, a hydrogenated polyalkylene glycol ether is used in cosmetic formulations.

Polyalkylene glycol ethers are non-ionic surfactants whose lipophilic part consists of fatty alcohols (e.g. lauryl alcohol, palmitic alcohol, stearyl alcohols, etc.). The hydrophilic part is formed by short-chain polyethylene glycols (polyoxyethylene). In the designation of fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers, the inserted numbering indicates the average number of ethylene oxide units per mole. Laneth-20, for example, is the INCI designation for a polyoxyethylene ether with 20 ethylene oxide units per mole.

Hydrogenated laneth-20 acts as an emulsifier (changes the interfacial tension of liquids such as water and oil so that they can be mixed together) and as a swelling agent (stabilizes the resistance and shelf life of ingredients or formulations).

Laneth(e) are the polyoxyethylene ethers of fatty alcohols which are obtained from wool wax(lanolin = INCI designation of wool wax) (comparatively: laurethe as polyoxyethylene ether of lauryl alcohol; steareth as polyoxyethylene ether of stearyl alcohol and others).