Magnesium laureth-16 sulphates

The polyoxyethylene ethers of lauryl alcohol are called laureth(s) (for comparison see: 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. Laureth-16 is the INCI designation for a polyoxyethylene ether with 16 ethylene oxide units per mole.

Magnesium laureth-16 sulfate, the magnesium salt of laureth sulfate (2-dodecoxyethylcarboylate) is used in cosmetic formulations. The substance acts as surfactant (washing-active substance; cleans the body surface).