What Is Beheneth-15?
Beheneth-15 is a synthetic ingredient made by attaching about fifteen units of ethylene oxide to behenyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol most often sourced from vegetable oils like rapeseed or peanut. The result is a waxy, water-loving compound that can mingle oil and water in the same formula. Ethoxylated fatty alcohols started to appear in cosmetics in the 1970s when formulators looked for milder alternatives to older detergents. Production involves reacting purified behenyl alcohol with controlled amounts of ethylene oxide under heat and pressure, then purifying the final mixture to remove any unreacted materials.
Because it makes oily ingredients disperse smoothly in water-based bases, Beheneth-15 shows up in a wide range of products including facial cleansers, moisturizing creams, body lotions, sheet masks, rinse-off hair conditioners, make-up removers and some anti-aging serums.
Beheneth-15’s Cosmetic Benefits/Uses
This multitasker lends two key functions to a formulation
- Cleansing: Its surfactant nature lifts dirt, oil and makeup from the skin so they can be rinsed away easily, giving products a gentle yet effective wash-off performance
- Emulsifying: By bridging oily and watery phases it keeps creams and lotions from separating, promoting a stable texture, uniform delivery of active ingredients and a pleasant, non-greasy feel
Who Can Use Beheneth-15
Beheneth-15 is generally considered friendly for most skin types including normal, dry, oily and combination skin because it does its job of cleansing and stabilizing formulas without stripping natural oils or leaving a heavy residue. Very sensitive or highly reactive skin may still prefer to avoid it since any surfactant has the potential to disturb an already fragile barrier.
The ingredient is synthetic and typically sourced from plant-derived fatty alcohol, so products using it are usually suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Always check the entire ingredient list because other animal-derived components could still be present in the same formula.
No specific warnings exist for topical use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. That said this information is educational only, not medical advice, and anyone who is pregnant or nursing should run new skincare products by a qualified healthcare provider to be on the safe side.
Beheneth-15 does not make skin more sensitive to sunlight, so it is not considered a photosensitizer. It can also be used both morning and night without timing concerns. People with compromised skin barriers or those using very strong actives like retinoids might want to introduce it slowly in case their skin is already stressed.
Potential Side Effects/Adverse Reactions
Reactions to Beheneth-15 vary from person to person. The points below list potential side effects that could occur, but most users will not experience these issues when the ingredient is used correctly in a finished product.
- Mild skin irritation such as redness or stinging, especially on very sensitive skin
- Contact dermatitis in rare cases where the individual has a specific allergy to ethoxylated fatty alcohols
- Eye irritation if a cleanser containing Beheneth-15 gets into the eyes during rinsing
- Dryness or tightness when used in high concentrations or combined with other strong surfactants
If any of these side effects occur discontinue use and consult a healthcare professional or dermatologist.
Comedogenic Rating
Comedogenic rating: 1 / 5
Beheneth-15 is derived from a long-chain fatty alcohol but its ethoxylation makes it far more water friendly than the raw oil-soluble alcohol. This boosted solubility helps it rinse away cleanly and keeps it from lingering in pores, so it poses little risk of clogging. Most published lists place similar ethoxylated fatty alcohols at the low end of the scale and real-world reports rarely link the ingredient to breakouts.
That low score means Beheneth-15 is generally fine for people prone to acne or congestion, provided the rest of the formula is also non-comedogenic. Formulation style, concentration and the presence of heavy oils can still influence the overall pore-clogging potential of the finished product so always consider the product as a whole.
Summary
Beheneth-15 acts primarily as a gentle cleanser and a reliable emulsifier. Its surfactant head grabs onto oils and grime while its fatty tail anchors itself in water, letting dirt lift away during rinsing. The same dual nature keeps oil and water phases blended, giving creams and lotions a smooth uniform texture.
It is a behind-the-scenes helper rather than a buzzworthy hero, yet it shows up in plenty of mainstream cleansers, lotions and masks because it quietly improves texture and user experience without stealing the spotlight or inflating costs.
Current safety data and decades of use point to a very low risk profile when Beheneth-15 is included at typical cosmetic levels. Still every skin is unique so do a quick patch test when trying any new product that contains it just to stay on the safe side.