LAURETH

📋 Quick facts

Description: LAURETH — LAURETH. Formula: C14H30O2. MW: 230.39. IUPAC: 2-dodecoxyethanol.

Quick Facts:

• Category: other
• Also Known As: Fatty alcohol

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Laureth is a surfactant (cleaning agent) used in skin cleansers and body washes
• Research shows laureth-based formulas have low irritant potential compared to older detergents
• Laureth cleansers can remove sebum (skin oil) without excessively drying skin
• When combined with other mild surfactants, laureth formulas show both gentle and effective cleaning
• Studies tested laureth on healthy volunteers using standardized skin irritation measures

⚗️ Chemical Overview

Laureth 4 is a polymer. The CIR Expert Panel concluded that the alkyl PEG ethers, listed below, are safe in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment when formulated to be nonirritating. This assessment is also intended to address future alkyl PEG ether cosmetic ingredients that vary from those ingredients recited herein only by the number of ethylene glycol repeat units…Laureth-1…

Source(s): Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), ChEBI, via PubChem

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Laureth refers to a family of surfactants—molecules that help remove oils and dirt from skin. The most studied version in these sources is laureth-23, a fatty alcohol ethoxylate that works as a primary cleanser. #1: Laureth has low irritant potential. When researchers applied laureth-23 to skin in patch tests (a standard irritation test), it showed significantly less irritation than older detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), with lower transepidermal water loss (a measure of skin barrier disruption) and less redness (Int J Cosmet Sci, 2024; Contact Dermatitis, 2003). #2: Laureth works best in combination formulas. Laureth-23 combined with cocamidopropyl betaine (a mild amphoteric surfactant) and disodium laureth sulfosuccinate (a mild anionic surfactant) performed better than other laureth blends, remaining gentle while still cleaning effectively in a 24-subject study (Int J Cosmet Sci, 2024).

Similarly, sodium laureth carboxylate (a laureth-derived ingredient) formulated with other mild surfactants reduced visible scaling and redness after 4 weeks of use (Int J Cosmet Sci, 2014). #3: Laureth cleansers can remove sebum without over-drying. A cleanser based on sodium laureth carboxylate removed facial oil effectively but showed “little effect on the induction of dry skin” because it doesn’t penetrate deeply into the skin’s outer layer, the stratum corneum (J Cosmet Dermatol, 2014; Skin Res Technol, 2015). In one 4-week study of 30 women with mild dry skin, those using a laureth-based cleanser actually showed improvements in dryness rather than worsening (J Cosmet Dermatol, 2014).

#4: Laureth formulas show good real-world tolerability. In a controlled 4-week body wash study of 16 volunteers using a blend of sodium laureth sulfate, sodium laureth carboxylate, and lauryl glucoside, users reported significant improvement in scaling and redness, with no complaints of irritation or dryness (Int J Cosmet Sci, 2014). A separate 4-week facial cleanser study found no complaints of dryness or irritation among 20 acne-prone men, with 25% seeing complete clearance of acne lesions by week 4 (Skin Res Technol, 2015). The sources are consistent on mildness and effectiveness, though they focus mainly on cleansing performance rather than other skincare benefits.

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Dick A et al. (2024). Mild but effective skin cleansing-Evaluation of laureth-23 as a primary surfactant. Int J Cosmet Sci.
• Yokoi A et al. (2014). A cleanser based on sodium laureth carboxylate and alkyl carboxylates washes facial sebum well but does not induce dry skin. J Cosmet Dermatol.
• Takagi Y et al. (2014). A new formula for a mild body cleanser: sodium laureth sulphate supplemented with sodium laureth carboxylate and lauryl glucoside. Int J Cosmet Sci.
• Isoda K et al. (2015). Effects of washing of the face with a mild facial cleanser formulated with sodium laureth carboxylate and alkyl carboxylates on acne in Japanese adult males. Skin Res Technol.
• Löffler H et al. (2003). Profile of irritant patch testing with detergents: sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate and alkyl polyglucoside. Contact Dermatitis.

🧴 Products Containing LAURETH

• Nivea Baby SHAMPOOING & BAIN HAPPY BATH
• BRYNILD GRUPPEN AS NIVEA Creme Soft Douchecrème
• Nivea Intimate Gel de toilette intime Apaisant Extrait de camomille, Panthenol & Acide lactique
• Nivea Intimate gel de toilette intime Douceur Huile de jojoba bio, Extrait de camomille & Acide lactique
• Nivea Men Sensitive Shower Gel Soothing + Bamboo Extract
• Beiersdorf, Nivea Nivea for men doccia gel energy
• Nivea, Nivea Men Cavani 9 – Gel douche hydratant originale édition limitée
• Nivea, Nivea Men NIVEA MEN sensitive peau sensible
• Nivea, Nivea Men Power Shampoo Anti-pelliculaire
• Nivea Nivea anti-transpirant Invisible for black & White 48h Original
• Nivea Perles de Q10 sérum concentré
• Beiersdorf, Nivea Douche soin crème veloutée, au beurre de karité
• nivea baby
• Nivea Care Shower Rose & Almond Oil
• Nivea NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Reinigingsgel
• Kneipp 2 in 1 Dusche Lemongras Guarana
• Rituals Serenity Indian Rose & Sweet Almond Oil
• hhh
• herbal essences champu
• tetesept tetesept Zeit für Dich
• Alcina hair & body shampoo
• shampoo
• Balea Men Arctic Fresh Duschgel
• Balea Creme Seife Sensitive
• Balea, dm Jeden Tag Shampoo Mango
• Balea Duschgel Jamaica Vibes
• Balea Professional, dm Blond Shampoo
• TABAC TABAC’S original bartshampoo & conditioner
• Gehwol, Gehwol med Fußbad
• CONAXESS TRADE NORGE AS Brillance Hårfarge 872 Intense Red
• Henkel, Schauma Sports Power-Shampoo
• Henkel, Schauma, Schwarzkopf & Henkel Frucht & Vitamin Shampoo
• Henkel, Schauma, Schwarzkopf & Henkel Himmlisch Lang, Langhaar Shampoo
• Fa men, Schwarzkopf & Henkel Duschgel Fan edition
• Henkel, Schauma Repair & Pflege Shampoo mit Kokos-Extrakt
• Henkel,Syoss Power Shampoo for Men
• Schwarzkopf & Henkel Fa MEN Sport
• H&S Champú
• AgeDefy, P&G, Pantène, Pantène Pro-V, Pantène Pro-V Expert, Pantène Pro-V Expert Collection, Procter & Gamble AgeDefy Shampooing
• Nivea Gel de Limpeza Facial Nivea Controle do Brilho