Stearethene (e) refers to the polyoxyethylene ethers of stearyl alcohol (octadecanol) (for comparison see: cetethe as polyoxyethylene ether of cetyl alcohol; laurethe as polyoxyethylene ether of lauryl alcohol and others).
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 is formed by short-chain polyethylene glycols (polyoxyethylene). In the designation of fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers, the inserted numbering means the average number of ethylene oxide units per mole. Steareth-13, for example, is the INCI designation for a polyoxyethylene ether with 13 ethylene oxide units per mole.
Steareth-13 is used in cosmetic formulations. It acts as an emulsifier (changes the interfacial tension of liquids like water and oil so that they can be mixed together).