Dea-Oleth-10 Phosphate

What is Dea-Oleth-10 Phosphate?

Dea-Oleth-10 Phosphate is a lab-made anionic surfactant produced by ethoxylating oleyl alcohol with ten ethylene oxide units to create oleth-10, then forming a phosphate ester and neutralizing it with diethanolamine. This gives it strong surface-active properties. Primarily used in rinse-off products like shampoos, shower gels, facial cleansers, and some leave-on items such as lotions and conditioners. In formulations, it reduces interfacial tension between water and oils, allowing dirt, excess sebum, and makeup to be rinsed away easily. It also generates foam for a satisfying lather and forms protective films at oil-water boundaries to prevent separation, ensuring products remain smooth and uniform during use and storage. Its mild nature suits a range of personal care applications.

Comedogenic Rating 0/5 Low risk of clogging pores
EWG Safety Rating 1-5 View on EWG →

Roles in Formulation

This ingredient serves the following purposes in cosmetic formulations:

Surfactant
Lowers surface tension to enable cleansing, emulsifying, and foaming; central to shampoos, body washes, and many emulsions and micellar systems.
Emulsifying agent
Enables stable mixing of oil and water phases by forming an interfacial film, helping create lotions, creams, and cleansers with consistent texture.

Benefits

Delivers effective cleansing by lifting away dirt and oils from skin and hair.

Supports foam generation for better application feel in washes and shampoos.

Enables stable blending of ingredients for consistent lotion and cream textures.

Who It's For

A quick guide for who this ingredient may suit (and who should be cautious).

Who May Benefit Who Should Avoid
Individuals seeking reliable foaming cleansers for daily routines.
Those with highly reactive skin prone to contact irritation.
Users of emulsified products like body lotions needing smooth consistency.
Individuals sensitive to ethoxylated compounds or potential impurities.
People with normal skin types using shampoos or washes.
People preferring to limit exposure to diethanolamine-derived ingredients.

Safety Notes

  • Deemed safe for cosmetic use by expert reviews when formulated to minimize irritation.
  • Potential for low-level impurities requires selection of quality-tested products.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dea-Oleth-10 Phosphate

What does Dea-Oleth-10 Phosphate do in products?

It acts as a surfactant to cleanse and foam, plus emulsifies for stable textures.

Is Dea-Oleth-10 Phosphate irritating?

Typically low irritation potential in rinse-off products when properly formulated.

Where is it commonly used?

Found in shampoos, body washes, facial cleansers, and some lotions.