Laureth-4
AKA “12-Tetraoxatetracosan-1-ol, Tetraethylene glycol monododecyl ether, Tetra(oxydiethanol) monodecyl ether, Tetraethylene glycol monolauryl ether, Lauryl alcohol tri(oxyethylene) ethanol”
Surfactant
Ingredient Facts
Laureth-4
AKA: 12-Tetraoxatetracosan-1-ol, Tetraethylene glycol monododecyl ether, Tetra(oxydiethanol) monodecyl ether, Tetraethylene glycol monolauryl ether, Lauryl alcohol tri(oxyethylene) ethanol
Surfactant · Cleansing · EWG: 2
Synthetic
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Plant Oil
Clean
3,6,9,12-tetraoxatetracosan-1-ol; Dodecan-1-ol, ethoxylated; Alcohols, C12-14, ethoxylated
Effective at 10.0%
CAS #
5274-68-0, 9002-92-0, 68439-50-9
Form
Liquid
See origin →
Functions
Antistatic
Cleansing
Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.
Emulsifying
Forces oil and water to stay mixed instead of separating into layers. The unsung hero holding your lotion together.
Surfactant Cleansing
Surfactant Emulsifying
Antioxidant
Anti-Inflammatory
Moisturizing
Lifts away dirt and oil
Reduces flyaways
Provides scent
Mixes oil and water
Traditional Use
Laureth compounds were developed in the mid-20th century as synthetic non-ionic surfactants derived from lauryl alcohol (a fatty alcohol from coconut or palm oil). They were created to replace natural soaps and provide gentle cleansing properties while maintaining stability in formulations.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
2
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
0.0004%
20.0%
0%28%
Effective Range
CIR reported use: 7-15 | 0.005-9 | 0.0004-20 | 6-8 | 0.001-4
Regulatory Agencies
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR