Steareth-2 (inci)

Stearethene (e) refers to the polyoxyethylene ethers of stearyl alcohol (octadecanol) (for comparison see: cetethe as polyoxyethylene ether of cetyl alcohol; 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-2, for example, is the INCI designation for a polyoxyethylene ether with 2 ethylene oxide units per mole.

Steareth-2 is used in cosmetic formulations. The mixture of substances acts as emulsifier (changes the interfacial tension of liquids like water and oil so that they can be mixed together) and as surfactant (washing-active substance; improves the even distribution of the products during application).