Laneth-5 (inci)

Laneth-5 is a substance used in cosmetic formulations as an emulsifier, viscosity regulator, skin care product and surfactant.

Laneth(e) are the polyoxyethylene ethers of fatty alcohols which are obtained from wool fat (lanolin = INCI designation of wool fat) (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-5, for example, is the INCI designation for a polyoxyethylene ether with 5 ethylene oxide units per mole.