Steareth-4
AKA “12-Tetraoxatriacontan-1-ol, NSC 190606, Tetraethylene glycol monooctadecyl ether, EX-A5404”
Surfactant
Ingredient Facts
Steareth-4
AKA: 12-Tetraoxatriacontan-1-ol, NSC 190606, Tetraethylene glycol monooctadecyl ether, EX-A5404
Surfactant · Cleansing · EWG: 4
Plant-Derived
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Plant Oil
Not Clean
Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-octadecyl-.omega.-hydroxy
Effective at 11.51%
CAS #
9005-00-9, 59970-10-4
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.
Cleansing Surfactant
Emulsifier
Removes Impurities
Mixes Oil & Water
Traditional Use
A nonionic surfactant created through ethoxylation of stearic acid in the 1950s. Developed to provide consistent emulsifying properties in cosmetic formulations.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Phototoxicity Concern
Concentration Guide
0.02%
23.0%
0%32%
Effective Range
CIR reported use: 18-23 | 0.02-0.4 | 0.2-1
Regulatory Agencies
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR