Food use
Nothing to weigh for this context yet.
We have no published hazard signal for this ingredient, so we cannot say how it behaves in this context — that is missing evidence, not a clean result.
- beauty
- cleaning
- food
- industrial
STEARETH-40
CAS 9005-00-9
Also registered as 30 other CAS numbers
8013-79-4 · 12679-67-3 · 31798-99-9 · 31917-55-2 · 32127-87-0 · 51109-88-7 · 55247-83-1 · 58339-87-0 · 59890-16-3 · 65489-62-5 · 74749-69-2 · 74749-72-7 · 78690-64-9 · 80700-13-6 · 96595-44-7 · 106707-02-2 · 107120-43-4 · 107120-44-5 · 130419-63-5 · 147827-15-4 · 161622-43-1 · 171286-87-6 · 181828-61-5 · 459409-05-3 · 503027-88-1 · 623588-92-1 · 1150565-38-0 · 1436693-16-1 · 2599285-26-2 · 2601299-88-9
Concern score
Not assessed — no hazard data yet.
STEARETH-40 in plain language
On cosmetic ingredient lists it appears as “STEARETH-20”.
Also known as STEARETH-20 · STEARETH-21 · STEARETH-100 · Polyoxyl 20 stearyl ether · Polyoxyethylene monooctadecyl ether · STEARETH-11
Show all 87 names
STEARETH-12 · STEARETH-13 · STEARETH-15 · STEARETH-16 · STEARETH-17 · STEARETH-200 · STEARETH-22 · STEARETH-23 · STEARETH-25 · STEARETH-30 · STEARETH-33 · STEARETH-50 · STEARETH-60 · STEARETH-8 · STEARETH-80 · Brij 721 · Brij 721S · Macrogol stearyl ether 21 · PEG-100 stearyl ether · PEG-11 stearyl ether · PEG-12 stearyl ether · PEG-13 stearyl ether · PEG-15 stearyl ether · PEG-16 stearyl ether · PEG-20 stearyl ether · PEG-21 stearyl ether · PEG-25 stearyl ether · PEG-30 stearyl ether · PEG-33 stearyl ether · PEG-40 stearyl ether · PEG-50 stearyl ether · PEG-8 stearyl ether · Polyethylene glycol (100) stearyl ether · Polyethylene glycol (11) stearyl ether · Polyethylene glycol (12) stearyl ether · Polyethylene glycol (13) stearyl ether · Polyethylene glycol (15) stearyl ether · Polyethylene glycol (16) stearyl ether · Polyethylene glycol (20) stearyl ether · Polyethylene glycol (21) stearyl ether · Polyethylene glycol (25) stearyl ether · Polyethylene glycol (30) stearyl ether · Polyethylene glycol (33)STEARYL ether · Polyethylene glycol (40) stearyl ether · Polyethylene glycol (50) stearyl ether · Polyethylene glycol (80) stearyl ether · Polyethylene glycol 1000 stearyl ether · Polyethylene glycol 400 stearyl ether · Polyoxyethylene (100) stearyl ether · Polyoxyethylene (11) stearyl ether · Polyoxyethylene (12) stearyl ether · Polyoxyethylene (13) stearyl ether · Polyoxyethylene (15) stearyl ether · Polyoxyethylene (16) stearyl ether · Polyoxyethylene (20) stearyl ether · Polyoxyethylene (21) stearyl ether · Polyoxyethylene (25) stearyl ether · Polyoxyethylene (30) stearyl ether · Polyoxyethylene (33) stearyl ether · Polyoxyethylene (40) stearyl ether · Polyoxyethylene (50) stearyl ether · Polyoxyethylene (8) stearyl ether · Polyoxyethylene (80) stearyl ether · 1-Octadecanol, monoether with polyethylene glycol · Aduxol ST 04 · Brij S100 · Brij S20 · Brij S200 · Brij S721 · Brij 72 · Brij S2 · Jeecol SA-100 · Lipocol S-20 · Lipocol S-21 · Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-octadecyl-omega-hydroxy- · Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), α-octadecyl-ω-hydroxy- · Polyethylene glycol stearyl ether · Polyoxyethylene Stearyl Ether · Unicol SA-13 · steareth 21 · BRIJ-721
Used in cosmetics as an emulsifier and a cleansing agent.
- Emulsifying
- Cleansing
- Emulsifier
- Surfactant
- Gelling agent
- Cleaning agent
- We haven't assessed a concern score for this ingredient yet. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.
Regulation
No restrictions found. STEARETH-40 appears in these published regulatory listings.
- Inactive ingredient in US drugs
- Found in consumer products
- Beauty
- Cleaning
- Pharma
- Food
- Industrial
USFDAinactive ingredient database9 entries — 3 administration routes
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: CREAM; Maximum daily exposure: 50 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: OINTMENT; Maximum daily exposure: 86 mgSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: CREAM; Potency: 4.15 %w/wSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: CREAM; Potency: 3 %w/wSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: LOTION; Potency: 3 %w/wSource →
- Route: BUCCAL; Dosage form: MOUTHWASH; Potency: 0.75 mg/1mlSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Potency: NASource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: AEROSOL, FOAM; Potency: 1.09 %w/wSource →
- Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: CREAM; Potency: 12 %w/wSource →
EUCosIngActivePoly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-octadecyl-.omega.-hydroxy
- Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-octadecyl-.omega.-hydroxySource →
USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 2611 composition records across product categories including Home maintenance, Personal care, Cleaning and safety. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Surfactant (surface active agent), Emulsifier, Cleaning agent.
- EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 2611 composition records across product categories including Home maintenance, Personal care, Cleaning and safety. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Surfactant (surface active agent), Emulsifier, Cleaning agent.Source →
USFDAlisted in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as polymer.
- openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as polymer.Source →
Expert safety opinions
No expert opinion on file for STEARETH-40. These are the independent scientific bodies that assess ingredients like this one; we show an opinion only when a record we hold cites it.
SCCS
EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
No SCCS opinion on file.
CIR
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US expert panel)
No CIR safety assessment on file.
Evidence & sources
No graded research studies for STEARETH-40 yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.
Where this comes from
- Open →
CosIng
regulatory · updated 2026-09-23
- Open →
EPA Chemical and Products Database
exposure · updated october 14, 2014
- Open →
EPA DSSTox Identifiers
chemistry · updated 2025-12-29
- Open →
FDA Inactive Ingredient Database
regulatory · updated 2026-01-09
- Open →
FDA GSRS UNII
registry · updated 2026-02-26
- Open →
openFDA Substance
registry · updated 2026-05-24
Suitability
Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.
No signal in this context
Fragrance avoidance
Nothing to weigh for this context yet.
We have no published hazard signal for this ingredient, so we cannot say how it behaves in this context — that is missing evidence, not a clean result.
Where it has been recorded
How often EPA CPDat has listed STEARETH-40 in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.
Source records
2,611
Named organisations
6
Home maintenancePersonal careCleaning and safetyMedical/dentalBatteriesFood and drug
Typical roles
EmulsifyingCleansingEmulsifierSurfactantGelling agentCleaning agent
Found in these products
Their ingredient lists include STEARETH-40; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.
- Lingette Bebe 120xDalaa Baby
- Pearl & BeautyNivea · Hygiene
- Nivea men Protect & CareNivea Men · Hygiene
- Dove Advanced Care Original Antitranspirant RollerDove · Hygiene
- SpainByly
- Nivea men deep blackStiker
- Blackhead clearing daily scrubClean & clear · Open Beauty Facts
- Sanex men 0% deodorantSanex · Open Beauty Facts
- Nivea Men Dry ImpactNivea · Non Food Products
- DoveUnilever, Dove · Cosmetic Products
- Sanex Natur protectSanex · Hygiene
- Men Dry FreshNivea · Hygiene
- déodorant stick nivaAnti-prespirant stick · Open Beauty Facts
- Active ControlSanex · Non Food Products
- Borotalco Original Deodorant RollerBorotalci · Hygiene
- Dove Advanced Care Invisible Dry Antitranspirant Deodorant RollerDove · Hygiene
- Dove Original 0% Deodorant RollerDove · Hygiene
- Invisible menDeliplus · Non Food Products
- Anti-transpirant extra dryCien MEN · Deodorant
- SensitiveByly · Non Food Products
- DEODORANT 48 HBYPHASSE
- Biotin & collagen conditionerOgx
- Old Spice SwaggerOld spice
- Nivea Roll-On Dry Fresh 50mlBRYNILD GRUPPEN AS · Non Food Products
Often appears with
Ingredients that frequently appear alongside STEARETH-40 in the catalog.