Steareth-80
AKA “Polyethylene glycol stearyl ether, PEG-80 Stearate, Polysorbate 80 analog”
Surfactant
Ingredient Facts
Steareth-80
AKA: Polyethylene glycol stearyl ether, PEG-80 Stearate, Polysorbate 80 analog
Surfactant · Cleansing · EWG: 4
Plant-Derived
Cleanser
Plant Oil
Not Clean
Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-octadecyl-.omega.-hydroxy- (80 mol EO average molar ratio)
Effective at 11.51%
CAS #
9005-00-9
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.
Cleansing
Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.
Removes Impurities
Cleansing Surfactant
Traditional Use
Highly ethoxylated nonionic surfactant derived from stearic acid, created in the 1950s for cosmetics manufacturing. Developed to provide superior emulsification in complex 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
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
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