Trideceth-11
What is it?
The Trideceth ingredients (Trideceth-2, Trideceth-3, Trideceth-4, Trideceth-5, Trideceth-6, Trideceth-7, Trideceth-8, Trideceth-9, Trideceth-10, Trideceth-11, Trideceth-12, Trideceth-15, Trideceth-18, Trideceth-20, Trideceth-21, Trideceth-50) are polyethylene glycol ethers of tridecyl alcohol. The number in the name indicates the average number of units of ethylene oxide in the molecule. In cosmetic and personal care products, the Trideceth ingredients are used in the formulation of a variety of skin care and hair care products.
Safety Information
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permits the Trideceth ingredients (polyoxyethylated tridecyl alcohol) to be used as indirect food additives. They may be used as defoaming agents in paper and paperboard, and in coatings of paper and paperboard used for food packaging.
The safety of the Tridecth ingredients has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel as part of the review of the alkyl PEG ether group of ingredients. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that the alkyl PEG ethers including the Trideceth ingredients were safe as used in cosmetic products when formulated to be non-irritating.
The safety of the Tridecth ingredients has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel as part of the review of the alkyl PEG ether group of ingredients. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that the alkyl PEG ethers including the Trideceth ingredients were safe as used in cosmetic products when formulated to be non-irritating.
Why is it used in cosmetics and personal care products?
The following functions have been reported for the Trideceth ingredients.
Surfactant – cleansing agent: Trideceth-20, Trideceth-50
Surfactant – emulsifying agent: Trideceth-2, Trideceth-3, Trideceth-4, Trideceth-5, Trideceth-6, Trideceth-7, Trideceth-8, Trideceth-9, Trideceth-10, Trideceth-11, Trideceth-12, Trideceth-15, Trideceth-18, Trideceth-20
Surfactant – solubilizing agent: Trideceth-20, Trideceth-21
Surfactant – cleansing agent: Trideceth-20, Trideceth-50
Surfactant – emulsifying agent: Trideceth-2, Trideceth-3, Trideceth-4, Trideceth-5, Trideceth-6, Trideceth-7, Trideceth-8, Trideceth-9, Trideceth-10, Trideceth-11, Trideceth-12, Trideceth-15, Trideceth-18, Trideceth-20
Surfactant – solubilizing agent: Trideceth-20, Trideceth-21
Scientific facts:
The Trideceth ingredients are produced by reacting ethylene oxide with tridecyl alcohol. The numerical designation refers to the average number of repeating ethylene oxide units in the molecule.
Tridecyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with 13 carbon atoms. The fatty alcohols in the other polyethylene glycol ether compounds reviewed by CIR include lauryl alcohol with 12 carbons, stearyl alcohol with 18 carbons, and cetearyl alcohol which is a mixture of cetyl alcohol (16 carbons) and stearyl alcohol.
Tridecyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with 13 carbon atoms. The fatty alcohols in the other polyethylene glycol ether compounds reviewed by CIR include lauryl alcohol with 12 carbons, stearyl alcohol with 18 carbons, and cetearyl alcohol which is a mixture of cetyl alcohol (16 carbons) and stearyl alcohol.
