What Is Ppg-6 C9-11 Alketh-5?
Ppg-6 C9-11 Alketh-5 is a synthetic ingredient created by attaching chains of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide to a blend of fatty alcohols that contain between 9 and 11 carbon atoms. This gives it both water-loving and oil-loving parts, which is why it works so well at keeping formulas evenly mixed. The raw materials start with petroleum-derived propylene oxide, ethylene oxide, and lab-made fatty alcohols. Through controlled chemical reactions, manufacturers add an average of six propylene oxide units and five ethylene oxide units to each fatty alcohol molecule, then purify the result to cosmetic-grade standards.
The earliest versions of these “alketh” surfactants appeared in the late 1960s as brands searched for safer, more versatile alternatives to harsh soaps. Over time formulators noticed that Ppg-6 C9-11 Alketh-5 could stabilize both creamy and clear products without making them feel heavy or greasy, which led to its adoption in skin care and hair care during the 1980s. Today you’ll spot it in moisturizers, cleansing balms, makeup removers, gel creams, leave-in conditioners, sheet mask serums and a growing number of lightweight sunscreens.
Ppg-6 C9-11 Alketh-5’s Cosmetic Benefits/Uses
Ppg-6 C9-11 Alketh-5 is prized mainly for one key role in beauty formulas.
As an emulsifying agent it binds oil and water phases so lotions stay smooth, serums stay clear and cleansing oils rinse off cleanly. This helps prevent separation during shipping or temperature swings, improves the texture you feel on skin, boosts the stability of active ingredients and lets brands create lighter finishes that absorb quickly without a greasy afterfeel.
Who Can Use Ppg-6 C9-11 Alketh-5
Ppg-6 C9-11 Alketh-5 is generally considered friendly for most skin types including normal, oily, combination and even dry skin thanks to its lightweight feel and low likelihood of clogging pores. Sensitive skin can usually tolerate it as well, though anyone with a known allergy to ethoxylated surfactants may want to steer clear because the emulsifying portion of the molecule is derived from ethylene oxide.
The ingredient is made entirely from petroleum-derived propylene oxide, ethylene oxide and synthetic fatty alcohols, so it contains no animal origin materials. That makes it suitable for both vegans and vegetarians when it appears on an ingredient list.
Current safety data show no reason pregnant or breastfeeding women cannot use products containing Ppg-6 C9-11 Alketh-5. The molecule is too large to penetrate deeply into skin and is not known to build up in the body. Still, this is not medical advice and anyone who is pregnant or nursing should run any skincare routine past a healthcare professional just to be safe.
Ppg-6 C9-11 Alketh-5 does not increase photosensitivity and will not make skin more prone to sunburn. It is also fragrance free and has no known interactions with common actives like retinol or vitamin C.
Potential Side Effects/Adverse Reactions
Side effects from topical use of Ppg-6 C9-11 Alketh-5 vary from person to person. The points below cover potential reactions but they are uncommon when the ingredient is used at normal cosmetic levels and formulated correctly.
- Mild skin irritation such as redness or stinging
- Contact dermatitis in individuals allergic to ethoxylated surfactants
- Eye irritation if the product accidentally gets into the eyes
- Dryness or tightness in very dehydrated skin when used in high-foaming cleansers
- Potential trace contamination with 1,4-dioxane if manufacturing purification steps are inadequate
If you experience any of the effects listed above discontinue use and consult a healthcare professional.
Comedogenic Rating
Rating: 1/5
Ppg-6 C9-11 Alketh-5 is chiefly an emulsifier with a lightweight molecular structure and no long, waxy fatty chains that typically block pores. It stays mostly on the surface to keep oil and water mixed and is used at low levels, which lowers its pore clogging potential. For these reasons it earns a low score of 1 rather than a perfect 0, mainly to account for the slim chance that any surfactant can disrupt an already compromised skin barrier.
Suitable for acne prone or breakout prone skin in most cases.
No evidence shows it feeds acne causing bacteria, and it rinses away cleanly in wash off products, further reducing pore blockage risk.
Summary
Ppg-6 C9-11 Alketh-5 acts as an emulsifier that keeps oil and water blended, stabilizes formulas across temperature changes, and gives products a smooth, non greasy finish. It does this through its balanced structure that contains both water loving and oil loving segments, allowing it to sit at the interface of the two phases and hold them together.
While not a household name, it is quietly popular among formulators who need a mild, versatile emulsifier for modern lightweight textures in moisturizers, cleansers and sunscreens.
Current research plus decades of use show it to be low risk for irritation, sensitization or systemic absorption when used in cosmetics. Still, skin can react unpredictably so it is wise to patch test any new product that lists Ppg-6 C9-11 Alketh-5 before full face or body application.