Cetoleth-2

INCI: CETOLETH-2

CAS Number
68920-66-1 (generic group CAS for ethoxylated C16-18 \& C18-unsatd. alcohols)
Function
Emulsifying agent (low-HLB co-emulsifier, W/O systems), surfactant
Safety Rating
MODERATE

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted
US Notes Not restricted; listed in VCRP as cosmetic ingredient; subject to MoCRA 2026 product listing requirements

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
low
Sensitization
low

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

1,4-Dioxane (potential process impurity from ethoxylation โ€” must be controlled <10 ppm); residual ethylene oxide; low-EO variants may act as penetration enhancers

โš ๏ธ
Concern Level: Moderate

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cetoleth-2 safe in cosmetics?

1,4-Dioxane (potential process impurity from ethoxylation โ€” must be controlled <10 ppm); residual ethylene oxide; low-EO variants may act as penetration enhancers The EU classifies Cetoleth-2 as "permitted". Safety rating: MODERATE.

Is Cetoleth-2 allowed in the EU?

Cetoleth-2 EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Cetoleth-2 do in cosmetics?

Cetoleth-2 functions as: Emulsifying agent (low-HLB co-emulsifier, W/O systems), surfactant. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 68920-66-1 (generic group CAS for ethoxylated C16-18 \& C18-unsatd. alcohols).

What is the Margin of Safety for Cetoleth-2?

adequate The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

๐Ÿ“ฑ

Is Cetoleth-2 in Your Products?

Scan any product label with Piro โ€” our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.

Try Piro Free โ†’

Analyze Your Full Ingredient List

Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for Cetoleth-2 in your formulation.