Octoxynols

Octoxynols are organic-chemical compounds from the group of ethoxylated alkylphenols. Chemically, octoxynols are p-octylphenols that are (poly)ethoxylated one or more times (poly)ethoxylated (see figure). The individual members of this group of substances are called octoxynol-n, where n is the number of -CH2-CH2-O-groups per molecule (e.g. for "Octoxynol-9" 9 ethoxy groups). The degree of ethoxylation varies between 1 and 70 for the octoxynols used in cosmetics.

Octoxynols as well as some of their derivatives (e.g. octoxynol carboxylic acid) possess surface-active properties and are mainly used in cosmetic formulations as surfactants, emulsifiers and as washing-active substances.