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Is AEO-9 (C12-14 E9) good for body wash and hand soap?
I bought some generic AEO-9 (fatty alcohol ethoxylate; C12-C14 alcohol with 9 EO) for dish soap experiments. Now that I have it, I find it’s reasonably easy to use as well as cheap when I buy in sample quantities.
Is it good to use on skin compared to common personal care detergents like lauryl sulfates, SLES, CAPB, and the glucosides? Is there anything I should worry about, such as eye irritancy? Obviously I need to try it to see whether it’s too drying or has another obvious detrimental effect, but it would be helpful to know what you guys think about alcohol ethoxylates on skin.
I would probably be using it in a foaming hand soap that’s 2% active SLS, 1.75% active nonionic surfactants, 0.75% active CAPB, and small amounts of salt, glycerin, and preservative. The body wash would be a standard sulfate-based body wash with CAPB, but with perhaps a third of the ALS, SLES, or both replaced with AEO-9. The exact amount would depend on foam, feel, salt thickening, etc.
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5 Replies
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AEO-9 is a good “degreaser”, so if you want to use it in a cosmetic cleanser, don’t use it as the main surfactant (maybe use it in the range between 0.5-2%).
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For me, hand soap is best made the traditional way by saponifying carefully selected high-quality plant oils. The selection of oils defines the soap’s characteristics.
In 2006, I co-founded and operated two factories that produced traditional soap bars until 2024. I exported globally, at premium prices.
Synthetic soap is cheap.
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It may reduce foam
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Thank you. What I’m getting from this is that there probably aren’t hidden dangers — I’ll do it and evaluate, then I’ll know whether it’s good.
For what it’s worth, I haven’t seen ethoxylates reduce foam. I read this happens for the less soluble ones (those with few EO units relative to the carbon chain length), or some of more exotic variations: branched ethoxylates, propoxylates, etc.
I’d be curious to try a really good natural potassium hand soap, but I find natural soap to be finicky. I’ve never made or encountered one I liked much, so it seems clear that it’s just plain hard to make good soap. Unlike synthetic shower gel or hand wash.
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” it seems clear that it’s just plain hard to make good soap. Unlike synthetic shower gel or hand wash.”
Yes, but easy if you know how. I co-founded two factories producing artisan-made all-natural soap. We exported globally, and 90% of the exports were Private Label for various brands globally.
If you want to know more, please get in touch.
Dr Mike Thair
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