Ingredient dictionary

Laureth-23

A surfactant made from lauryl alcohol and ethylene oxide, with an average of 23 ethylene oxide units. It cleans and helps foam and mix oil and water. It is on the label of 9 products in our library. Checked against our library November 6, 2026.

What Laureth-23 does

Cleans by lifting oil and dirt
Helps create a light, even foam
Keeps oils and water blended together

Laureth-23 is made by attaching an average of 23 ethylene oxide units, small repeating building blocks, to lauryl alcohol, a fatty alcohol often sourced from coconut or palm kernel oil. The result has a water-loving chain on one end and an oil-loving tail on the other. That split is what lets it act as a surfactant.

Formulators like it because it is a nonionic surfactant, meaning it has no electrical charge. That makes it easy to combine with other cleansers and keeps formulas stable. It foams gently, helps oil and dirt rinse away, and can soften the feel of harsher ingredients. It also shows up in some baby lotions, where it helps blend oil and water.

Good for

Good for rinse-off shampoos and gentle cleansers, including formulas for babies and people with sensitive skin.

Frequently asked questions

Is Laureth-23 gentle on skin?

It is generally well tolerated in rinse-off products like shampoo. Like most cleansers, it can feel drying or irritate if left on skin or used at high strength, so rinse well. If your skin is very sensitive, a patch test on a small area is a sensible first step.

Is Laureth-23 the same as sodium laureth sulfate?

No. Sodium laureth sulfate is a different surfactant with a charged sulfate group. Laureth-23 has no charge, and it is often used alongside cleansers like that to make them feel softer.