Access CETETH 20

Complete Self-Emulsifying Wax for Stable and Luxurious Creams & Lotions

INCI Name: Cetearyl Alcohol (and) Ceteareth-20

Access CETETH 20 is a versatile and easy-to-use self-emulsifying wax that creates exceptionally stable creams and lotions. This blend of Cetearyl Alcohol and Ceteareth-20 works as a complete system to bind oil and water together while also thickening your formula, resulting in a smooth, rich, and professional-quality texture. It is the go-to choice for formulators looking for reliability and elegance in their emulsions, from lightweight lotions to heavy creams.

Perfect For These Applications

Other cosmetic uses possible—contact us for formulation guidance.

Rich Body Creams & Butters

Creates thick, stable emulsions that can hold a high percentage of oils and butters, delivering a luxurious and moisturizing feel without separation.
Daily Facial Moisturizers

Forms elegant, non-greasy emulsions that provide a smooth application and stable base for delivering cosmetic actives.
Hair Conditioners & Masks

Provides the thick, creamy consistency essential for rinse-off hair conditioners, helping to soften and detangle hair.
Foundation & Cream Cosmetics

Acts as a reliable emulsifier and thickener in pigmented formulas, ensuring even distribution and a stable base for color cosmetics.
Pharmaceutical Ointments & Creams

Offers high stability for creating topical creams and ointments, ensuring a consistent and effective base for active ingredients.
Hand & Foot Creams

Builds viscosity to create protective, substantive creams that soothe and moisturize dry, hardworking skin.

How to Use Access CETETH 20 in Your Formulations

What Access CETETH 20 Does

Access CETETH 20 is a complete emulsifying system, which means it has everything you need to create a stable cream or lotion. In any formula with both oil and water, you need an emulsifier to act as the “glue” that holds them together. Without it, your product would quickly separate into layers.

This ingredient is a blend of two components: Cetearyl Alcohol, a fatty alcohol that thickens and stabilizes the formula, and Ceteareth-20, a powerful oil-in-water (O/W) emulsifier. Together, they create a robust network that wraps around oil droplets, suspending them evenly within the water phase. The result is a classic cream or lotion texture that is smooth, stable, and elegant on the skin. Think of it as the reliable workhorse for creams and lotions—effective, easy to use, and able to deliver professional results consistently.

Formulation Tips

Access CETETH 20 is a solid, wax-like flake/pastille that must be melted into the oil phase of your formula. Use at 2–7% of the total formula: 2–4% for lightweight lotions and 5–7% for thick, rich creams.

Standard O/W emulsion process:

Combine Access CETETH 20 with oils, esters, and butters (oil phase).
In a separate vessel, combine water-soluble ingredients (water, glycerin, glycols) as the water phase.
Heat both phases to 70–75°C (158–167°F) until CETETH 20 is fully melted and phases are at similar temperature.
With mixing, slowly add the water phase to the oil phase and homogenize for a uniform emulsion.
Stir while cooling. Below 40°C (104°F), add cool-down ingredients (preservatives, fragrance, heat-sensitive actives).

This system is robust and tolerant of many cosmetic ingredients, creating stable emulsions across pH 5.5–7.5.

Key Formulation Benefits:

All-in-One System: Acts as both an emulsifier and thickener, simplifying formulas and reducing the need for extra stabilizers.
Creates Luxurious Textures: Produces rich, creamy aesthetics with a smooth, non-greasy skin feel.
Highly Stable Emulsions: Forms dependable O/W emulsions that resist separation, even with complex oil blends or temperature swings.
Easy for All Skill Levels: Forgiving and straightforward—ideal for beginners and a reliable staple for professional labs.
Versatile Application: Effectively emulsifies a wide range of oils and butters for facial lotions, body creams, hair masks, and more.
Consistent Results: Predictable viscosity and stability for reproducible batch-to-batch performance.

Heading #1
Benefits	Easy Processing, Emulsion Stability, Long-Term Stability, Processing Benefits, Rich & Luxurious, Texture & Sensory
INCI Name	Cetearyl Alcohol (and) Ceteareth-20
Usage Rate	2%-7%
Functional Type	Emulsifiers, Self-Emulsifying Systems, Thickeners & Rheology Modifiers
Phase Compatibility	Oil Phase
Application Area	Body, Face, Hair
Product Type Suitability	Color Cosmetics, Conditioners, Creams & Lotions, Masks & Treatments
Certifications	Cruelty-Free, Vegan
Physical Form	Flake

Frequently Asked Questions About Access CETETH 20

An emulsifying wax lets you mix oil and water to create a stable cream or lotion. Access CETETH 20 is a “complete” system— it both emulsifies and contributes thick, creamy body to the finished product.

Use 2–7% of the total formula. Choose 2–4% for lighter lotions and 5–7% for thick, rich creams.

Yes. Melt Access CETETH 20 in the oil phase at 70–75°C (158–167°F). Heat the water phase to the same temperature before combining for best stability.

For anhydrous (water-free) body butters, you don’t need an emulsifier. For “emulsified” body butters (very thick creams containing water and butters), Access CETETH 20 is an excellent choice.

Not strictly. Cetearyl Alcohol can be naturally derived, but Ceteareth-20 is synthetic (ethoxylated). The blend is highly effective and stable but typically not suitable for certifications like COSMOS.

Generally no. Access CETETH 20 is self-emulsifying. You can add small amounts of other fatty alcohols (e.g., Cetyl Alcohol) to fine-tune texture if desired.

Access CETETH 20 is a non-ionic emulsifier ideal for skin creams and lotions. BTMS is cationic, making it especially good for hair conditioning due to its substantivity to hair. CETETH 20 can build conditioner texture but won’t condition like a cationic system.

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