Ricinoleth-40 (inci)

Ricinoleth (e)" refers to the polyoxyethylene ethers of ricinoleyl alcohol (for comparison see: laurethe as polyoxyethylene ether of lauryl alcohol; steareth as polyoxyethylene ether of stearyl alcohol, etc.). In the term "ricinoleth", the numbering after the name indicates the average number of ethylene oxide units per mole. For Ricinoleth -40, for example, this is 40 ethylene oxide units per mole.

Ricinoleth-40 is used in cosmetic formulations. The substance mixture acts as an emulsifier (changes the interfacial tension of liquids like water and oil so that they can be mixed together) and as a surfactant (washing-active substance).