STEARETH-2

📋 Quick facts

Description: STEARETH-2 — emulsifier.

All Functions: emulsifier

Quick Facts:

• Category: surfactant

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Steareth-2 is an emulsifier—an ingredient that helps mix oil and water together in skincare products
• Research shows it can affect how much water your skin loses, but the effect differs depending on whether skin is healthy or damaged
• It influences how stable creams stay when exposed to heat and temperature changes
• It may reduce how much of certain sunscreen ingredients penetrate into your skin

⚗️ Chemical Overview

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…Steareth-2… See also: Ethanol, 2-2-(octadecyloxy)ethoxy- (annotation moved to).

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

Steareth-2 is a surfactant, meaning it’s a molecule with both water-loving and oil-loving ends that allows incompatible ingredients to blend together. In skincare formulations, it serves a stabilizing role in emulsions (the creams and lotions that combine oil and water). Here’s what the research reveals: #1: On normal, healthy skin, steareth-2 was one of five emulsifiers studied that increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL)—essentially how much moisture escapes through the skin barrier—though researchers note this may involve the emulsifier being absorbed into the skin’s lipid structure (Int J Pharm, 2000). #2: Interestingly, on skin that’s already been irritated or damaged, steareth-2 was among three emulsifiers that unexpectedly decreased TEWL, suggesting it might interact differently with compromised skin barriers (Int J Pharm, 2000).

#3: When formulating emulsions with plant oils like marigold oil, switching from a shorter-chain emulsifier (Ceteth-2) to steareth-2 increases the temperature at which the emulsion’s structure becomes unstable, which can improve how well the product holds up over time (Drug Dev Ind Pharm, 2007). #4: In sunscreen formulations, emulsions containing steareth-2 (combined with steareth-21) allowed significantly lower amounts of certain UV-absorbing ingredients to penetrate through human skin compared to other emulsifier systems tested—a potentially protective effect (Int J Cosmet Sci, 2008). #5: In formulations with plant-based Buriti oil, steareth-2 paired with other emulsifiers produced stable creams that maintained consistent texture and pH, though some changes occurred during temperature cycling tests (Drug Dev Ind Pharm, 2010).

The available research is limited to these specific contexts, and effects appear to vary based on what other ingredients are present and skin condition.

📄 Related Research

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

• Bárány E et al. (2000). Unexpected skin barrier influence from nonionic emulsifiers. Int J Pharm.
• dos Santos OD et al. (2007). Influence of surfactant on the thermal behavior of marigold oil emulsions with liquid crystal phases. Drug Dev Ind Pharm.
• Montenegro L et al. (2008). In vitro skin permeation of sunscreen agents from O/W emulsions. Int J Cosmet Sci.
• Zanatta CF et al. (2010). Rheological behavior, zeta potential, and accelerated stability tests of Buriti oil (Mauritia flexuosa) emulsions containing lyotropic liquid crystals. Drug Dev Ind Pharm.

🧴 Products Containing STEARETH-2

• Ducrem Emulsion reparadora y refrescante
• sanex zero%
• Protane Argan Oil of Morocco
• Henkel, Göt2b got2b kleber spiking wax
• BRYNILD GRUPPEN AS Nivea Roll-On Men Dry Fresh 50ml
• Nivea Men Dry Impact deodorant
• BRYNILD GRUPPEN AS Nivea Roll-On Magnesium 50ml
• Nivea Dry Comfort
• Henkel, Schwarzkopf 3 Wetter Taft Power Wax
• Nivea Protect & Care
• unilever, dove Invisibledry
• Nivea Clean Comfort
• Love Beauty and Planet Love Beauty And Planet Déodorant Femme Bille Douceur Huile d’Argan & Lavande Vegan
• Love Beauty and Planet Love Beauty And Planet Déodorant Femme Bille Soin Beurre de Murumuru & Rose Vegan
• Dove Dove Men+Care Invisible Dry Antitranspirant Deoroller
• LILLEBORG AS Sunsilk Deo Coconut Care 50ml
• Barnängen, Schwarzkopf & Henkel Barnängen Active Pearls Aqua spirit
• Dove Complete Care
• Unilever, Rexona, Sure, Rexona Men, Rexona Men Sensitive, Sure Men MotionSense Sensitive
• Alès groupe, Laboratoires Liérac, Liérac, Liérac Paris, Magnificence Magnificence nuit gel-en-baume lissant détoxifiant rides – fermeté – éclat
• 3 chênes, 3 chênes Beauty belleza oleo-proteique complex color & soin 6 G blond foncé doré
• unilever, rexona Rexona Rollon Men Deodorant 50ML Cobalt
• Differin Daily Refreshing Cleanser
• Biafine SoleilBiafine Lait Spray Solaire Enfant Triple Résistance
• Biafine SoleilBiafine Lait protecteur ultra-hydratant triple résistance FPS 50+
• Neutrogena Visibly Clear Correct & Perfect CC Crème Claire
• EuPhidra Sudorazione intensa
• Borotalco Borotalco Invisible Deodorant Roller
• Babaria Desodorante rosa mosqueta
• Cosmia Crème pieds
• Giorgi Fijación y textura
• Clairol Nice ‘n Easy Root Touch-Up Permanent Hair Color, 4R Dark Auburn
• L’Oréal, L’Oreal Consumer products, L’Oréal Paris PRODIGY 6.0 LIN Blond foncé
• Les Cosmetiques Crema para contorno de ojos booster plan
• Les Cosmetiques Gel contorno de ojos aplicador frio booster plan
• Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturizer
• sisbela sisbela
• BYPHASSE DEODORANT 48 H
• Dove,Unilever Dove zero original 50ml
• Amie naturally, spring clean Deep cleansing Mask