What Is Laureth-25?
Laureth-25 is a man-made ingredient created by attaching about 25 units of ethylene oxide to lauryl alcohol, a fatty alcohol that usually comes from coconut or palm kernel oil. The result is a clear liquid or paste that dissolves easily in water and mixes oil with water without fuss. Members of the laureth family have been used in personal care since the 1950s when chemists began looking for milder yet effective cleansers for daily products.
The manufacturing process, called ethoxylation, starts with plant-derived lauryl alcohol. Ethylene oxide gas is added in a controlled setting until the desired chain length is reached. The longer the chain, the gentler the surfactant tends to be. After purification and quality checks the material is ready for cosmetic use.
You will most often spot Laureth-25 in face and body washes, shampoos, bubble baths, micellar waters, makeup removers, exfoliating masks, liquid soaps and even some lightweight creams or serums where a little extra cleansing or foaming action is needed.
Laureth-25’s Cosmetic Benefits/Uses
In formulas Laureth-25 pulls double duty, helping products work better and feel nicer on the skin.
- Cleansing: Lowers the surface tension of water so dirt, oil and makeup lift away quickly leaving skin or hair fresh without a squeaky-dry feel
- Emulsifying: Blends oil-based and water-based ingredients into a smooth stable mixture which keeps lotions and washes from separating on the shelf and in the shower
Who Can Use Laureth-25
Because it is a mild surfactant Laureth-25 tends to suit most skin types including normal, oily and combination. Dry or very sensitive skin can usually tolerate it as well since the higher ethoxylation level makes it gentler than many traditional foaming agents, though those who already struggle with barrier issues might prefer formulas where it is paired with extra soothing ingredients.
The ingredient is considered vegan and vegetarian friendly because its fatty alcohol backbone is almost always sourced from plant oils like coconut or palm rather than animal fats, and no animal-derived processing aids are involved.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women are not specifically advised to avoid Laureth-25. Current safety assessments show no reproductive toxicity concerns when it is used in rinse-off or leave-on cosmetics. This is not medical advice and anyone who is expecting or nursing should still show the full product list to a healthcare professional before use to be safe.
Laureth-25 does not make skin more sensitive to sunlight so it is fine to use in daytime products without increasing the risk of sunburn. It also has no known conflicts with common topical actives like retinoids or vitamin C, making it easy to slot into almost any routine.
Potential Side Effects/Adverse Reactions
Reactions to topical Laureth-25 differ between individuals. The issues listed below are only potential outcomes and most people will never experience them when using a well-formulated product.
- Mild skin irritation
- Eye stinging if the product is accidentally rubbed into the eyes
- Dryness or tightness in people who already have a compromised skin barrier
- Contact dermatitis in the rare case of true sensitivity to ethoxylated surfactants
If any discomfort or visible reaction appears stop using the product and seek advice from a medical professional as needed.
Comedogenic Rating
Rating: 1 / 5
Laureth-25 is highly water soluble and designed to rinse cleanly from skin which leaves little residue behind to clog pores. Its long chain of ethoxylated units makes it more hydrophilic than lower-numbered laureths so it is far less likely to build up in follicles. For that reason the ingredient is generally considered suitable for acne-prone or breakout-prone skin when used in typical cleanser or rinse-off formulas.
As with any surfactant the final product formula matters: heavy oils or waxes combined alongside Laureth-25 could raise the overall pore-clogging risk even if the surfactant itself remains low.
Summary
Laureth-25 acts mainly as a cleanser and emulsifier. Its long PEG chain lowers water’s surface tension to lift away dirt oil and makeup while its oil-and-water friendly structure keeps formulas uniform so they do not separate in the bottle or on the skin.
The ingredient is a quiet workhorse rather than a headline act. It shows up in many mass-market face washes shampoos and micellar waters but rarely gets called out on the front label.
Current safety reviews find Laureth-25 non-sensitizing and non-toxic at the concentrations used in cosmetics. Still every skin is unique so it is wise to patch test any new product that features this or any other surfactant before adding it to a full routine.