Laneth-40 (inci)

Laneth(e) are the polyoxyethylene ethers of lanolin alcohols (for comparison see: laurethe as polyoxyethylene ether of lauryl alcohol; steareth as polyoxyethylene ether of stearyl alcohol and others).

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 means the average number of ethylene oxide units per mole. Laneth-40 is the INCI designation for a polyoxyethylene ether with 40 ethylene oxide units per mole.

Laneth-40 acts as an emulsifier (changes the interfacial tension of liquids such as water and oil so that they can be mixed together), viscosity regulator (increases or decreases the viscosity of cosmetic products), surfactant (washing-active substance) and viscosity regulator (increases or decreases the viscosity of cosmetic products).