Trideceth-6

Trideceth-6 is a nonionic ethoxylated surfactant/solubilizer used at low levels (often ~0.1–5%) to help disperse oils and fragrances, but surfactant-type ingredients can disrupt the stratum corneum and provoke stinging, especially on compromised or eczematous skin. In patch testing and real-world use, irritation is generally uncommon at typical leave-on concentrations yet clearly possible in reactive individuals, particularly when combined with other cleansing agents or fragrance systems. Given the higher risk in barrier-impaired patients and cumulative routine exposure, a mild irritancy score is the safest clinically-aligned assessment. Safety Notes: Trideceth-6 is a nonionic surfactant/solubilizer most often used at very low levels (~0.05–0.5%) in leave-on products (serums, sprays, toners) to solubilize fragrance/oils or aid emulsion stability, and around ~0.5–3% in cleansing systems to support mildness and foam/solubilization. In consumer-available high-surfactant formats (micellar waters, cleansing oils/balms converted to self-emulsifying cleansers, makeup removers, and some exfoliating cleansers), total ethoxylated surfactant packages can be high and Trideceth-6 is observed up to ~10–15% as part of the primary solubilizing/emulsifying system; rinse-off products dominate the upper end due to potential irritation/tack at high leave-on levels.