An ethoxylated lauryl ether carboxylic acid used as a cleansing surfactant.
What it is
Laureth-4 carboxylic acid is an ether carboxylic acid derived from laureth-4, an ethoxylated lauryl (C12) alcohol, in which a carboxymethyl group has been added to the end of the polyethylene glycol chain. CosIng lists it as a cleansing surfactant.
Where it is used
Found in shampoos, shower gels, facial cleansers and other rinse-off products.
Limits of interpretation
The INCI list shows which ingredients are present, not how much of each. Above 1%, ingredients are listed in descending order of weight; below 1% the order is free.
The degree of ethoxylation is an average, so the raw material is a mixture of molecules of different sizes.
Functions
- Surfactant – cleansing
- Wetting body surfaces, emulsifying or solubilizing oils, and suspending soil (generally, such ingredients contribute to the foaming and lathering properties of cleansing products).
EU regulation
This ingredient is not listed in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 in the CosIng data.