Access CETETH 6

Versatile O/W Emulsifier for Stable, Creamy Formulations

INCI Name: Ceteareth-6 (and) Cetearyl Alcohol

Access CETETH 6 is a robust and easy-to-use emulsifying system for creating professional-quality oil-in-water (O/W) creams and lotions. This optimized blend combines the emulsifying power of Ceteareth-6 with the thickening and stabilizing benefits of Cetearyl Alcohol, enabling stable products with a rich, creamy texture. It is a versatile workhorse ingredient suitable for a wide range of skincare and hair care emulsions.

Perfect For These Applications

Other cosmetic uses possible—contact us for formulation guidance.

Daily Face Creams

Creates stable, non-greasy emulsions with a smooth application and feel, perfect for daily moisturizing products.
Hydrating Body Lotions

Provides excellent viscosity and stability for body lotions, ensuring a creamy texture that spreads easily and absorbs well.
Sun Care Formulations

Effectively emulsifies oils and UV filters in sun care products, contributing to a stable and cosmetically elegant final formula.
Rinse-Off Hair Conditioners

Acts as a primary emulsifier and thickener in conditioning formulas, helping to create a rich texture that coats the hair shaft.
Creamy Cleansers

Forms the stable base for lotion-style cleansers, enabling the gentle removal of makeup and impurities without stripping the skin.
Foundation & Cream Cosmetics

Provides the emulsifying backbone for liquid foundations and other cream-based color cosmetics, ensuring pigment suspension and stability.

How to Use Access CETETH 6 in Your Formulations

Understanding Access CETETH 6

If you want to create a classic cream or lotion, you need to mix oil and water—two ingredients that famously don’t get along. Access CETETH 6 is the ingredient that makes this possible. It’s an emulsifier, which acts as the “bridge” that holds the oil and water phases together, preventing them from separating over time. This ensures your final product remains smooth, uniform, and stable.

Access CETETH 6 is a clever blend of two ingredients. The Ceteareth-6 is the primary emulsifier; its molecular structure has a water-loving head and an oil-loving tail, allowing it to sit at the interface between oil droplets and water to create a stable oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion. The Cetearyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol that acts as a co-emulsifier and thickener. It adds body and richness to your formula and works alongside the Ceteareth-6 to build a stronger, more stable emulsion structure. With an HLB value of approximately 10, this blend is perfectly balanced for creating O/W systems like most conventional creams and lotions.

Formulation Tips

Using Access CETETH 6 is straightforward, making it a great choice for both beginners and experienced formulators. A typical usage rate is between 2% for very light lotions and up to 8% for thick, heavy creams. A good starting point for a standard lotion is 4–5%.

Standard process: (1) Add Access CETETH 6 to your oil phase with your oils, butters, and oil-soluble ingredients. (2) Heat the oil phase to 70–75°C (158–167°F), stirring until fully melted and uniform. (3) Separately heat your water phase to the same temperature. (4) Combine phases while mixing with moderate to high shear until the emulsion forms and turns white and creamy. (5) Continue gentle mixing while cooling; add preservative and other heat-sensitive ingredients below 40°C (104°F). This emulsifier is robust and broadly compatible with cosmetic oils, actives, and preservatives.

Key Formulation Benefits:

All-in-One Simplicity: Combines a primary emulsifier and a co-emulsifier/thickener in one easy-to-use product, simplifying your formulation process.
Excellent Emulsion Stability: Creates robust and reliable O/W emulsions that resist separation, even with varying oil phases and temperatures.
Luxurious Texture: Cetearyl Alcohol builds viscosity and provides a rich, cushioned feel to creams and lotions without being overly greasy.
Highly Versatile: Suitable for everything from lightweight daily lotions to thick, rich night creams and body butters.
Great Compatibility: Works well with silicones, esters, natural oils, and a wide variety of active ingredients.
Reliable and Predictable: Delivers consistent results and scales well from lab to production.

Heading #1
Benefits	Easy Processing, Emulsion Stability, Long-Term Stability, Processing Benefits, Rich & Luxurious, Texture & Sensory
INCI Name	Ceteareth-6 (and) Cetearyl Alcohol
Usage Rate	2%-8%
HLB Value	10
Functional Type	Emulsifiers, Self-Emulsifying Systems
Phase Compatibility	Oil Phase
Application Area	Body, Face, Hair
Product Type Suitability	Cleansers, Color Cosmetics, Conditioners, Creams & Lotions, Sun Care
Certifications	Cruelty-Free, Vegan
Physical Form	Flake

Frequently Asked Questions About Access CETETH 6

It’s an emulsifier, which means it allows you to mix oil and water to create a stable cream or lotion. The Cetearyl Alcohol in the blend also helps to make your final product thicker and gives it a creamy, elegant feel.

Use between 2% and 8% of your total formula weight. For a light lotion, start with 2–4%. For a standard cream, use 4–6%. For a very thick, rich cream, you can go up to 8%.

Yes, it must be heated to work. Add it to your oil phase and heat everything to about 70–75°C (158–167°F) until the flakes are fully melted before you combine it with your heated water phase.

Not usually. Access CETETH 6 is a self-emulsifying system, meaning it contains both the emulsifier and a thickener (Cetearyl Alcohol). For most standard creams and lotions, it’s all you need to create a stable, well-textured product.

Cetearyl Alcohol on its own is mainly a thickener and stabilizer; it is not a strong enough emulsifier to hold a formula together by itself. Access CETETH 6 includes Ceteareth-6, which is the primary emulsifier that keeps oil and water mixed.

No. While the Cetearyl Alcohol component can be derived from natural sources, Ceteareth-6 is produced via ethoxylation, making it a synthetic ingredient. It is widely used and considered safe in cosmetics.

It is ideal for oil-in-water emulsions, including face creams, body lotions, sunscreens, hair conditioners, and creamy cleansers. It is not suitable for anhydrous products like balms or body butters.

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