Laureth 4

Benefits:

• Emulsifying agent: Blends oil and water into stable formulations.

• Solubilizer: Helps incorporate essential oils, fragrances, and actives into aqueous systems without separation.

• Foam booster & dispersant: Improves foam quality and stability in cleansers, shampoos, and body washes.

• Skin feel enhancer: Improves texture and gives a smoother, lighter feel to lotions and creams.

• Versatility: Functions as a primary emulsifier, co-emulsifier, or solubilizer depending on formula design.

• Compatible with both anionic and non-ionic surfactants, making it useful in complex systems.

How to Use:

• Typical usage rate: 1–10% (lower for solubilizing, higher for emulsification).

• Formulation phase: Can be added to either the oil or water phase depending on the system; commonly used in pre-mixes with oils when solubilizing.

• Heat stability: Can tolerate moderate heating but often added in cooler phases to preserve sensitive actives.

• Works well in:

  • Creams & lotions (for lightweight emulsions).

  • Cleansers & shampoos (as a mild cleansing agent and solubilizer).

  • Bath oils & serums (to disperse oils evenly in water).

• Often paired with other emulsifiers or stabilizers for improved system stability.

Safety:

• Regulatory status: Approved for cosmetic use in many regions.

• Skin tolerance: Generally considered mild, but at higher concentrations or in leave-on products it may cause skin or eye irritation in sensitive individuals.

• Natural status: Not approved for ECOCERT or COSMOS, as it is a synthetic ethoxylated ingredient.

• Toxicology: Considered non-toxic and non-carcinogenic; does not bioaccumulate.

• Best practices: Use at the lowest effective concentration and combine with skin-soothing agents in sensitive-skin formulations.