Nonoxynol-12

What is Nonoxynol-12?

Nonoxynol-12 is a synthetic nonionic surfactant, chemically a nonylphenol ethoxylate with 12 ethylene oxide units attached to a nonylphenyl group. This water-soluble compound arises from reacting nonylphenol alcohol with ethylene oxide, creating a hydrophilic head and lipophilic tail ideal for surface-active roles. Primarily found in rinse-off cosmetics like shampoos, body washes, facial cleansers, and some lotions or creams, it functions by lowering interfacial tension between water and oils. This enables micelle formation to trap and remove soils, dirt, and sebum during rinsing. As an emulsifying agent, it forms a protective film around oil droplets in water-based formulas, promoting stability and uniform consistency. Its surfactant properties also generate foam, enhancing user experience in cleansing routines without clogging pores.

Comedogenic Rating 0/5 Low risk of clogging pores
EWG Safety Rating 4 View on EWG →
PubChem View on PubChem →

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.
Cleansing agent
Removes dirt, oil, and impurities by lowering surface tension and forming micelles, enabling soils to be lifted and rinsed away from skin, hair, or teeth.

Benefits

Delivers thorough cleansing by lifting dirt and excess oil from skin and hair.

Stabilizes emulsions in lotions and cleansers for smooth, even textures.

Produces desirable foam in washes and shampoos for effective application.

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 sensitive or reactive skin prone to irritation.
Individuals with normal to oily skin preferring foaming products.
Individuals concerned about moderate hazard ratings from safety databases.
People seeking stable textures in emulsified skincare formulations.
People preferring to minimize synthetic surfactants in routines.

Safety Notes

  • Considered safe for use in cosmetics by regulatory reviews when properly formulated.
  • Potential irritation risk higher in leave-on products; best in rinse-off items.

Frequently Asked Questions about Nonoxynol-12

What does Nonoxynol-12 do in products?

It acts as a surfactant to cleanse by removing oils and dirt, emulsifies for stable mixes, and foams in washes.

Is Nonoxynol-12 safe for skin?

Rated moderate hazard by EWG; generally safe in rinse-off cosmetics per reviews, but monitor for irritation.

Does it cause breakouts?

Comedogenic rating of 0 indicates low risk of pore clogging.