Coceth(e) (inci)

The polyoxyethylene ethers of a synthetic fatty alcohol obtained from coconut oil are referred to as coceth(e) (for comparison, see: laurethe as polyoxyethylene ether of lauryl alcohol; stearethe as polyoxyethylene ether of stearyl alcohol, etc.).

Polyalkylene glycol ethers are non-ionic surfactants whose lipophilic part consists of fatty alcohols (e.g. lauryl alcohol, palmitic alcohol, stearyl alcohols, etc.). The hydrophilic part consists of short-chain polyethylene glycols (polyoxyethylenes). In the designation of fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers, the inserted numbering indicates the average number of ethylene oxide units per mole. Coceth-10, for example, is the INCI designation for a polyoxyethylene ether with 10 ethylene oxide units per mole.

Coceth(e) are used in cosmetic products as emulsifiers, surfactants and foaming agents.

Representatives are:

• coceth-3
• Coceth-5
• Coceth-6
• Coceth-7
• Coceth-8
• Coceth-10