Shea butter glycereth-8 esters (inci)

Shea butter glycereth-8-esters refers to the transesterified shea butter with glycereth-8. glycereth- is a PEG (polyethylene glycol) ester of glycerol (glycerol). The number behind the name "glycereth" indicates the average number of molecular units (-CH2-CH2-O-), here e.g. glycereth-8. The consistency (liquid to solid) and chemical-physical properties of the glycereth derivative depend on the respective number of molecular units (see also polyglycerol ester).

Transesterification is a chemical reaction in which one ester is converted into another. In transesterification, the alcohol residue of an ester is replaced by another alcohol residue.

Shea butter glycereth-8 esters are used in cosmetic formulations. The substance acts as a surfactant (washing-active substance; improves the even distribution of the products during application), emulsifier (surface-active substance which is used in cosmetic preparations as an additive to combine 2 immiscible liquids - e.g. oil and water - to form an emulsion) and as a cleansing substance.