US EPA

4934197 

Journal Article 

Final report on the safety assessment of steareth-2,-4,-6,-7,-10,-11,-13,-15, and-20 

Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel :: CIR Expert Panel 

1988 

Yes 

Journal of the American College of Toxicology
ISSN: 0730-0913 

7 

6 

881-910 

English 

10.3109/10915818809078712 

BCI:BCI198936058710 

The steareth group is a series of compounds prepared by reacting stearyl alcohol with ethylene oxide to form polyoxyethylene stearyl ethers. Steareths are waxy solids used primarily as emulsifiers in cosmetics at concentrations of up to 25%.

Steareth-2 and-10 were nontoxic to rats in acute oral toxicity studies. In subchronic testing, steareth-20 was nontoxic to rabbits when administered dermally at concentrations of 4%. Steareth-2 and-10, at concentrations of up to 60% in water, were at most mildly irritating to rabbit eyes and only mild irritants when tested in cosmetic formulations at concentrations of up to 60%.

Structurally similar polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers were neither mutagenic nor tumor promoters.

Steareth-2,-10, and-20 in water were neither primary irritants nor sensitizers to human skin. Steareth-20 was not phototoxic.

On the basis of the available data it is concluded that steareths-2,-4,-6,-7,-10,-11,-13,-15, and-20 are safe as cosmetic ingredients in the present practices of use and concentration.