What it is
C12-13 Alketh-9 is an ethoxylated fatty alcohol in which a blend of twelve- and thirteen-carbon alcohols is reacted with ethylene oxide to give an average of nine ethoxylate units. The resulting nonionic surfactant helps disperse oils in water and stabilize emulsions. In sunscreen formulas it can aid in forming uniform, easily spreadable emulsions and in solubilizing oil-soluble components.
Safety & warnings
Ethoxylated surfactants of this type are widely used and generally well tolerated in rinse-off and leave-on products at typical use levels. As with other ethoxylated ingredients, manufacturing controls limit residual ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane. Higher surfactant concentrations can be mildly irritating to compromised skin in some individuals.
Origin & sourcing
Synthetic; produced by ethoxylating C12-13 fatty alcohols, which may themselves be derived from petrochemical or plant-oil feedstocks.
Questions everyone asks
What does C12-13 Alketh-9 do in a formula?
It acts as a nonionic surfactant and emulsifier, helping blend oil and water phases into a stable, spreadable product.
What does the number 9 mean?
It indicates the average number of ethylene oxide units (about nine) attached to the fatty alcohol backbone.