Isosteareth-20

INCI: ISOSTEARETH-20

CAS Number
52292-17-8
Function
Surfactant - cleansing and emulsifying
Safety Rating
MODERATE

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted
US Notes Allowed; no specific prohibition. FDA expects manufacturers to minimize 1,4-dioxane as a processing contaminant.

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

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
not established
Dermal Absorption
low
Sensitization
low

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

1,4-Dioxane contamination (byproduct of ethoxylation) and residual ethylene oxide - both are known carcinogens. Must be stripped/purified during manufacturing. NY state enforces โ‰ค2 ppm 1,4-dioxane (dropping to 1 ppm) in finished products.. Nonionic surfactant/emulsifier. The 20 EO units give a high HLB (~15-16), making it an effective O/W emulsifier. Isostearyl chain provides branching that improves skin feel versus linear steareth-20.

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Concern Level: High

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Isosteareth-20 safe in cosmetics?

1,4-Dioxane contamination (byproduct of ethoxylation) and residual ethylene oxide - both are known carcinogens. Must be stripped/purified during manufacturing. NY state enforces โ‰ค2 ppm 1,4-dioxane (dropping to 1 ppm) in finished products.. Nonionic surfactant/emulsifier. The 20 EO units give a high HLB (~15-16), making it an effective O/W emulsifier. Isostearyl chain provides branching that improves skin feel versus linear steareth-20. The EU classifies Isosteareth-20 as "permitted". Safety rating: MODERATE.

Is Isosteareth-20 allowed in the EU?

Isosteareth-20 EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Isosteareth-20 do in cosmetics?

Isosteareth-20 functions as: Surfactant - cleansing and emulsifying. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 52292-17-8.

What is the Margin of Safety for Isosteareth-20?

not established 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.

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