What Is C14-15 Pareth-8 Carboxylic Acid?
C14-15 Pareth-8 Carboxylic Acid is a synthetic ingredient made by linking fatty alcohols that contain 14 to 15 carbon atoms with about eight units of ethylene oxide, then adding a carboxylic acid group. The fatty alcohols usually come from petroleum or plant oils, giving the molecule a part that loves oil while the ethylene oxide and acid parts love water. This mix of oil-loving and water-loving sections turns it into an effective surfactant, meaning it can lift dirt and oil so they wash away easily.
Nonionic surfactants like this one began gaining popularity in the 1950s as gentler options compared with early soaps that were harsh and alkaline. Chemists kept tweaking the length of the carbon chain and the number of ethylene oxide units to balance cleaning power with mildness, which led to the creation of C14-15 Pareth-8 Carboxylic Acid. The ingredient is produced in large stainless-steel reactors where fatty alcohols are first ethoxylated, then reacted with chloroacetic acid to add the carboxyl group. The final mixture is purified, checked for safety and blended into liquid or solid forms ready for cosmetic labs.
You will most often find C14-15 Pareth-8 Carboxylic Acid in facial cleansers, body washes, shampoos, micellar waters, makeup removers and wet wipes. It can also appear in exfoliating scrubs and peel-off masks where a balanced surfactant is needed to disperse other ingredients evenly.
C14-15 Pareth-8 Carboxylic Acid’s Cosmetic Benefits/Uses
This ingredient is valued mainly for its cleansing role in personal care formulas.
As a cleansing agent, C14-15 Pareth-8 Carboxylic Acid lowers the surface tension of water so it can spread across the skin and hair, surround oil and dirt then lift them away when rinsed. It creates a light, creamy foam that feels pleasant without stripping the skin’s natural barrier. Its nonionic nature means it works well over a wide pH range and pairs smoothly with other surfactants, thickeners and conditioning agents, helping formulators design gentle yet effective products.
Who Can Use C14-15 Pareth-8 Carboxylic Acid
C14-15 Pareth-8 Carboxylic Acid is gentle enough for most skin types, including oily, combination and normal skin. Its nonionic structure and balanced oil-and-water profile make it less likely to strip dry skin or provoke sensitive skin compared with harsher sulfates, so even those with mild sensitivities often tolerate it well. Extremely reactive or compromised skin (for example, active eczema or open wounds) could still find any surfactant sensitizing because the barrier is already weakened, so extra caution is advised in those cases.
The ingredient is synthetic and typically derived from plant oils or petroleum, with no animal-derived components used in its standard production, making it suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Brands committed to vegan formulations should confirm their suppliers use plant-based fatty alcohols.
No studies flag C14-15 Pareth-8 Carboxylic Acid as unsafe during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and it is not known to penetrate deeply or act hormonally. That said, this is not medical advice. Expectant or nursing parents should show any skincare product to their healthcare provider before use, just to be safe.
The molecule does not make skin more sensitive to sunlight, so it does not cause photosensitivity. It also plays well with a wide range of other skincare ingredients and remains stable over normal cosmetic pH levels, so there are no special usage restrictions beyond general surfactant concentration limits set by formulators.
Potential Side Effects/Adverse Reactions
Reactions to topical C14-15 Pareth-8 Carboxylic Acid vary from person to person. The effects listed below are only potential outcomes; when used correctly in a finished product most people will not experience any of them.
- Mild skin irritation such as redness or stinging, most often if the formula sits on skin for an extended period before rinsing
- Dryness or tightness when used in very high concentrations or combined with other strong cleansers
- Contact dermatitis in individuals allergic or highly sensitive to ethoxylated surfactants
- Eye irritation if the product accidentally gets into the eyes, leading to tearing or a burning sensation until rinsed away
- Increased permeability of the skin that could enhance penetration of other potentially irritating actives applied at the same time
If any uncomfortable reaction occurs stop using the product and seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
Comedogenic Rating
Rating: 1 out of 5
C14-15 Pareth-8 Carboxylic Acid is a water-soluble nonionic surfactant that does not leave a heavy oily residue on skin. Its molecules rinse away cleanly so they are unlikely to block pores, yet the small presence of fatty alcohol chains earns it a minimal score rather than a perfect zero.
Because the risk of pore clogging is very low, this ingredient is generally suitable for acne-prone or breakout-prone skin.
Formulas containing large amounts of occlusive oils or butters alongside this surfactant could still feel heavy on skin, so overall product composition matters more than the surfactant itself when evaluating breakout potential.
Summary
C14-15 Pareth-8 Carboxylic Acid is primarily a cleansing agent that lowers water’s surface tension, coats dirt and oil, then carries them away during rinsing. Its balanced oil-loving and water-loving structure lets it form a soft lather while remaining gentle across a wide pH range and compatible with many other ingredients.
The ingredient has a modest but steady presence in skincare and haircare, appearing most often in mild facial cleansers, micellar waters and baby shampoos rather than headline-grabbing trend products.
Safety data show a low irritation profile and no links to systemic toxicity when used at typical cosmetic levels. Even so, everyone’s skin is unique so it is wise to do a quick patch test when trying any new product that contains C14-15 Pareth-8 Carboxylic Acid.