La
Laureth-4
Laureth-4
A mixing helper that keeps oil and water blended and can help a product cleanse.
What it does
It’s made from lauryl alcohol, a fatty alcohol, joined to a short PEG chain; the 4 is that chain’s average length. It’s there to hold the formula together, not to change your skin.
The evidence, graded
expert consensusUS safety reviewers (2012) assessed the alkyl PEG ethers, which products use mostly to help oil and water mix, and some to condition skin or steady a mixture. Their index lists ceteareth-12, ceteareth-20, steareth-20, steareth-21, laureth-4, laureth-7, ceteth-20 and beheneth-20 under that report. They judged them safe as used, in products made not to irritate.Fiume 2012 · International Journal of Toxicology ↗
Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
Browse all 809 ingredients — grouped by what they do, each with whatever evidence we can cite.
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