Steareth-100 (inci)

Stearethene (e) is the polyoxyethylene ether of stearyl alcohol (octadecanol) (for comparison see: Cetethe as polyoxyethylene ether of cetylacohol; laurethe as polyoxyethylene ether of lauryl 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. Steareth-100 for example is the INCI designation for a polyoxyethylene ether with 100 ethylene oxide units per mole.

Steareth-100 is used in cosmetic formulations. The substance mixture acts as a gelling agent (enables the production of a gel, a gelatinous, semi-solid product).