What Is C14-15 Alketh-12?
C14-15 Alketh-12 is a man-made ingredient created by attaching about twelve units of ethylene oxide to a blend of fatty alcohols that have 14 to 15 carbon atoms. These fatty alcohols are usually produced from petroleum or plant oils, giving the final ingredient a balance of oil loving and water loving parts. This balance makes it useful for mixing oil and water in cosmetics.
The idea of bonding ethylene oxide to fatty alcohols dates back to the mid-20th century when chemists were searching for better ways to stabilize creams and lotions. Over time C14-15 Alketh-12 proved reliable, easy to work with and gentle enough for leave-on products, which led to its steady adoption by cosmetic formulators.
Manufacturing starts with the fatty alcohol mixture. Under controlled heat and pressure ethylene oxide gas is added, and the reaction continues until the average chain reaches twelve units. The process is monitored carefully to keep impurities low and to ensure a consistent, repeatable product.
You will most often find C14-15 Alketh-12 in facial cleansers, masks, anti-aging formulas, moisturizers and lightweight serums where a smooth, even texture is important. It also appears in some sunscreens and hair conditioners to keep the formula stable and pleasant to use.
C14-15 Alketh-12’s Cosmetic Benefits/Uses
C14-15 Alketh-12 plays one main role in skin and hair care formulas.
Emulsifying: Its dual nature lets it grab onto both oil and water, keeping them blended into a stable, uniform mixture. This prevents products from separating in the bottle, helps active ingredients spread evenly on the skin and gives creams and lotions a lighter, silkier feel.
Who Can Use C14-15 Alketh-12
C14-15 Alketh-12 is usually gentle enough for most skin types including oily, combination, dry and normal skin. People with very sensitive or highly reactive skin might notice mild tightness or redness if a formula contains a high amount of this emulsifier, so they may want to choose products where it sits lower on the ingredient list.
The ingredient itself can be made from petroleum or plant oils, not animal sources, so it is generally considered suitable for vegans and vegetarians. If strict plant origin is a must, look for brands that state their fatty alcohols are plant derived.
No data links C14-15 Alketh-12 to problems during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Still, this is not medical advice and anyone who is pregnant or nursing should show the full product label to a doctor before use.
C14-15 Alketh-12 does not increase photosensitivity, so it will not make skin more prone to sunburn. As with any routine, daytime sunscreen is still important for overall skin health.
Potential Side Effects/Adverse Reactions
Responses to topical C14-15 Alketh-12 differ from person to person. The points below list potential side effects that could occur, though most users will not experience them when the ingredient is used correctly in a well-formulated product.
- Mild skin irritation
- Temporary redness or stinging on very sensitive skin
- Dry or tight feeling if used in a high-foaming cleanser
- Eye irritation if the product gets into the eyes
- Rare allergic contact dermatitis
If any of these reactions occur stop using the product and consult a healthcare professional or dermatologist.
Comedogenic Rating
Rating: 1 (very low likelihood of clogging pores)
C14-15 Alketh-12 is an ethoxylated fatty alcohol that stays mostly on the surface of the skin and rinses away easily. Its primary job is to keep oil and water mixed, not to form an occlusive film, so it does not tend to block pores. Because of this low residue nature most formulators consider it close to non-comedogenic.
Suitable for acne-prone or breakout-prone skin in the vast majority of cases.
One thing to keep in mind is that the overall product formula matters; heavy butters and waxes paired with C14-15 Alketh-12 can still be pore clogging even though this emulsifier on its own is not.
Summary
C14-15 Alketh-12 acts mainly as an emulsifier, keeping oil and water evenly blended so creams, lotions and cleansers stay smooth and stable. Its balanced structure lets the oil-loving part grab onto oils while the water-loving part holds onto water, preventing separation and giving formulas a light silky feel.
While not as famous as classic ingredients like glycerin or dimethicone, it enjoys steady use behind the scenes in many modern skincare and haircare products because it is dependable, easy to formulate with and generally skin friendly.
Current research and long-term market experience show it to be low risk for irritation or pore clogging when used at normal cosmetic levels. That said skin can be unpredictable so it is always smart to patch test any new product that contains C14-15 Alketh-12 before full-face or full-body use.