Is Laureth-6 safe in cosmetics?
Laureth-6 has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Good
Cosmetic Ingredient
Laureth-6
Also known as: 3,6,9,12,15,18-Hexaoxatriacontan-1-ol, 4-01-00-02407, BRN 1715367, Dodecyl hexaethylene glycol, Dodecyl hexaoxyethylene monoether (+7 more)
INCI: LAURETH-6
Laureth-6 (CAS 3055-96-7) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Surfactant – emulsifying agent; used in bath, hair care, cleansing, and. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 3055-96-7 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Laureth-6 is classified GHS Danger (H302, H318, H400) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status; Chemicals: ghs_classifications.signal_word/hazard_statement_code
Function
Surfactant – emulsifying agent; used in bath, hair care, cleansing, and sunscreen products
Safety Rating
GOOD
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
2-[2-[2-[2-[2-(2-dodecoxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy]ethoxy]ethoxy]ethanol
InChIKey
OJCFEGKCRWEVSN-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
Permitted — CIR-reviewed safe when formulated to be non-irritating
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Laureth-6.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Sensitization AOP Dashboard
Adverse Outcome Pathway data across 5 assays (DPRA, KeratinoSens, hCLAT, LLNA, NESIL) aggregated from public sources.
DPRA Cys %
7.4%
DPRA Lys %
1.1%
KeratinoSens IC50
21.6 µM
hCLAT CV75
17.2 µg/mL
LLNA EC3
7.4%
NESIL
1850 µg/cm²
LLNA: Moderate (1B)
GHS: 1B
Source: LLNA: CosmEur database; DPRA: Cosmetics Europe; KS: Cosmetics Europe; hCLAT: Cosmetics Europe
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Cleaning agent
Dispersing agent
Wetting agent (non-aqueous)
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Laureth-6.
Known Synonyms
3,6,9,12,15,18-Hexaoxatriacontan-1-ol
4-01-00-02407
BRN 1715367
Dodecyl hexaethylene glycol
Dodecyl hexaoxyethylene monoether
EINECS 221-282-3
Hexaethylene glycol dodecyl ether
Hexaethylene glycol lauryl ether
Hexa(oxydiethanol) monodecyl ether
Hexaoxyethylene dodecyl monoether
Lauryl hexaethoxylate
UNII-J2N33740SH
Chemical Function
Cleaning agent
Dispersing agent
Wetting agent (non-aqueous)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Laureth-6 allowed in the EU?
Laureth-6 EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Laureth-6 do in cosmetics?
Laureth-6 functions as: Surfactant – emulsifying agent; used in bath, hair care, cleansing, and sunscreen products. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 3055-96-7.
Is Laureth-6 used outside cosmetics?
Laureth-6 also appears in industrial chemical safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Does Laureth-6 have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Laureth-6 is classified GHS Danger (H302, H318, H400) in the chemicals database but is allowed in EU cosmetics.
Compliance Tools
Check Laureth-6 compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
Related Ingredients
Benzylidene Camphor Sulfonic Acid
Excellent
Same category
UV filter (broadband UVB + UVA absorb...
Dioctylaminoethoxytriazine Aminopropyl Silsesquioxane Silicate
Excellent
Same category
Film forming agent that creates prote...
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol (MBBT)
Excellent
Same category
UV filter, light stabilizer
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Excellent
Same category
Binder, Surface Modifier, Skin Condit...
Trimethoxycaprylylsilane
Excellent
Same category
Surface modifier, binder, skin condit...
Tris-Biphenyl Triazine
Excellent
Same category
UV Filter – most efficient UVB + UVA2...
(AGARICUS BLAZEI FERMENT + GANODERMA LUCIDUM FERMENT + GANODERMA MULTIPILEUM FERMENT) EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
Anti-sebum, Antioxidant, Skin Protecting
(ANGELICA ACUTILOBA/PAEONIA LACTIFLORA/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA) ROOT/CNIDIUM OFFICINALE RHIZOME EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning ...
(ANGELICA ACUTILOBA/PAEONIA LACTIFLORA/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA/SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS) ROOT/(CNIDIUM OFFICINALE/COPTIS CHINENSIS) RHIZOME/GARDENIA JASMINOIDES FRUIT/PHELLODENDRON CHINENSE BARK EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
(ANGELICA GIGAS/GLYCYRRHIZA URALENSIS/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA ROOT)/ANGELICA GIGAS STEM/CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS FLOWER/(CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS/PRUNUS PERSICA SEED)PORIA COCOS WATER
Good
Similar safety
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Pr...
(ANGELICA KEISKEI/CHRYSANTHEMUM ZAWADSKII) LEAF/STEM/CINNAMOMUM CASSIA BARK/TRICHOSANTES KIRILOWII FRUIT/ULMUS DAVIDIANA BARK/ROOT/(PAEONIA JAPONICA/BUPLEURUM FALCATUM/POLYGALA TENUIFOLIA ROOT)/VISCUS ALBUM STEM EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
Anti-seborrheic, Anti-sebum, Antioxid...
(APPLE/CITRUS JUNOS/LENTIL/PEAR/PUMPKIN/STRAWBERRY/TOMATO FRUIT)/CORN KERNEL/(ARCTIUM LAPPA/BRASSICA OLERACEA ACEPHALA/CABBAGE/CAMELLIA SINENSIS/MORINGA OLEIFERA/RADISH/SPINACH LEAF)/(SORGHUM BICOLOR LEAF/STEM)/OAT MEAL/POTATO PULP/(CARROT/NELUMBO NUCIFERA/RADISH/WILD YAM ROOT)/(AMARANTHUS HYPOCHONDRIACUS/CASHEW/CICER ARIETINUM/COIX LACRYMA-JOBI MA-YUEN /MACADAMIA TERNIFOLIA/PHASEOLUS ANGULARIS/PISTACIA VERA/RHYNCHOSIA NULUBILIS/RICE/SESAME/SETARIA ITALICA/SOYBEAN/SWEET ALMOND/WHEAT SEED)/HORDEUM VULGARE SPROUT/CYPERUS ESCULENTUS TUBER/ARTEMISIA PRINCEPS/BROCCOLI/CHENOPODIUM QUINOA/ENTEROMORPHA COMPRESSA/HORDEUM VULGARE/IPOMOEA BATATAS/LAMINARIA JAPONICA/LENTINUS EDODES/PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS/PORPHYRA TENERA/UNDARIA PINNATIFIDA EXTRACT
Good
Similar safety
Antioxidant
LAURETH-5
Good
Chemical family
Surfactant - Cleansing, Surfactant - ...
Laureth-2
Moderate
Chemical family
Surfactant, emulsifier, penetration e...
Laureth-3
Moderate
Chemical family
Surfactant, emulsifier, penetration e...
Is Laureth-6 in Your Products?
Scan any product label with Piro — our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.
Try Piro Free →Analyze Your Full Ingredient List
Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for Laureth-6 in your formulation.