Trilaneth-4 phosphates (inci)

Trilaneth-4 phosphate is used in cosmetic products. Laneth(e) are the polyoxyethylene ethers of lanolin alcohols (for comparison see: laurethe as polyoxyethylene ether of lauryl alcohol; steareth as polyoxyethylene ether of stearyl alcohol and others). Polyalkylene glycol ethers are non-ionic surfactants whose lipophilic part consists of fatty alcohols (e.g. lanolin alcohols). The hydrophilic part is formed by short-chain polyethylene glycols (polyoxyethylene). In the designation of the fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers, the inserted numbering indicates the average number of ethylene oxide units per mole. Laneth-4, for example, is the INCI designation for a polyoxyethylene ether with 4 ethylene oxide units per mole.

The mixture acts as a viscosity regulator (increases or decreases the viscosity of cosmetic products).