Dea-Oleth-3 Phosphate

What is Dea-Oleth-3 Phosphate?

Dea-Oleth-3 Phosphate is a synthetic anionic surfactant derived from oleyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol sourced from natural oils like olive or tallow. It undergoes ethoxylation with three ethylene oxide units to form oleth-3, followed by phosphorylation and neutralization with diethanolamine, yielding a molecule with a hydrophilic phosphate group and lipophilic alkyl chain. Primarily featured in rinse-off cleansing products such as shampoos, shower gels, and facial washes, it also appears in emulsions like conditioners and light lotions. By lowering surface tension, it dislodges dirt, sebum, and residues from skin and hair. As an emulsifier, it forms a protective film at oil-water interfaces, preventing phase separation and ensuring smooth, uniform textures during application and storage.

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

Supports thorough yet gentle cleansing by effectively reducing surface tension.

Stabilizes emulsions for consistent product texture in creams and cleansers.

Contributes to foaming properties in washes without high comedogenic risk.

Who It's For

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

Who May Benefit Who Should Avoid
Users of daily cleansers needing reliable dirt removal.
Those with known sensitivity to ethoxylated ingredients.
Individuals formulating or using emulsion-based hair and body products.
Users concerned about potential impurities in amine salts.
People preferring non-comedogenic surfactants in rinse-off items.
Individuals seeking completely preservative-free or minimalist formulas.

Safety Notes

  • Rated with low to moderate hazard scores by databases, safe in typical cosmetic concentrations.
  • Minimize exposure in leave-on products due to limited long-term data on skin penetration.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dea-Oleth-3 Phosphate

What does Dea-Oleth-3 Phosphate do in products?

It acts as a surfactant to cleanse by lowering surface tension and as an emulsifier to blend oil and water phases stably.

Is it safe for everyday use?

Evaluated safe in rinse-off products at common levels by cosmetic safety reviews, with low comedogenic potential.

Does it foam well?

Yes, it aids in creating lather typical of shampoos and body washes.