Oleth-10
AKA “PEG-10 oleyl ether, polyoxyethylene oleyl ether, UNKNOWN”
Surfactant
Ingredient Facts
Oleth-10
AKA: PEG-10 oleyl ether, Polyoxyethylene oleyl ether, UNKNOWN
Surfactant · Cleansing · EWG: 2
Synthetic
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Clean
Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-9-(Z)-octadecenyl-.omega.-hydroxy (10 mol EO average molar ratio)
Effective at 9.03%
CAS #
9004-98-2
Form
Liquid
See origin →
Functions
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
Traditional Use
A synthetic polyethylene glycol ether derived from oleyl alcohol (from oleic acid), developed in the mid-20th century as a mild surfactant and emulsifier for personal care products.
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
0.06%
18.0%
0%25%
Effective Range
CIR reported use: 0.1-18 | 0.3-10 | 1-4 | 0.06-10
Regulatory Agencies
Cetoleth-10
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Oleth-10
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Oleth-100
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Oleth-106
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
PPG-4 Oleth-10 Dimethicone
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Oleth-10
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Oleth-100
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Oleth-106
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR