Oleth-3
AKA “Oleyl Ethoxylate 3, Oleth 3, Polyethylene Glycol Monooleyl Ether”
Surfactant
Ingredient Facts
Oleth-3
AKA: Oleyl Ethoxylate 3, Oleth 3, Polyethylene Glycol Monooleyl Ether
Surfactant · Emulsifying · EWG: 2
Synthetic
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Clean
Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-9-(Z)-octadecenyl-.omega.-hydroxy (3 mol EO average molar ratio)
Effective at 9.03%
CAS #
9004-98-2
Form
Liquid
See origin →
Functions
Emulsifying
Forces oil and water to stay mixed instead of separating into layers. The unsung hero holding your lotion together.
Emulsifier
Traditional Use
Synthetic surfactant and emulsifier developed in the mid-20th century by ethoxylating oleyl alcohol. These polyethylene glycol derivatives were created to provide stable emulsification and solubilization properties in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
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
Sensitization to oleth-3-phosphate and oleth-5 in a hair wax.
Abdullah A, Walker S, Tan CY, Foulds IS
Contact dermatitis, 1997
Sensitization to oleth-3-phosphate and oleth-5 in a hair wax.
Abdullah A, Walker S, Tan CY, Foulds IS
Contact dermatitis, 1997
Cetoleth-30
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Disodium Oleth-3 Sulfosuccinate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Hydrogenated Dimer Dilinoleth-30
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Oleth-3
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Oleth-30
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Oleth-35
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Oleth-3
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR