Steareth-2 is a chemical compound, carbon chains  alkyl polyethylene glycol (PEG (Polyethylene glycol)) ether of ethoxylated fatty stearyl alcohol  (2 mol),   from  palm kernel oils and coconut oils and fats.

Safety. 

The term 'eth' refers to the ethoxylation reaction with ethylene oxide after which residues of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, chemical compounds considered carcinogenic, may remain. The degree of safety therefore depends on the degree of purity of the compound obtained. At present, no manufacturer is known to provide this information on the label.

It appears as white granular flakes.

What it is used for and where

It is a non-ionic lipophilic surfactant with emulsifying function for water/oil emulsions. Emulsifiers have the property of directly influencing the stability, sensory properties and surface tension of sunscreens by modulating their filmometric performance..

Pharmaceutical

Co-emulsifier for oil/water systems with excellent dispersing power and resistant to extreme pH values and high concentrations of electrolytes and metal ions.

Cosmetics

Surfactant - Emulsifying agent. Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable and are used to soothe or soften the skin and emulsify, so they need a specific, stabilising ingredient. This ingredient forms a film, lowers the surface tension and makes two immiscible liquids miscible. A very important factor affecting the stability of the emulsion is the amount of the emulsifying agent. Emulsifiers have the property of reducing the oil/water or water/oil interfacial tension, improving the stability of the emulsion and also directly influencing the stability, sensory properties and surface tension of sunscreens by modulating the filmometric performance.

Emulsion stabilizer. Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable. Emulsion stabilisers improve the formation and stability of single and double emulsions. It should be noted that in the structure-function relationship, molar mass plays an important role.

Emulsifier for water/oil systems, co-emulsifier for oil/water systems and lubricant in creams, lotions, polar oil emulsions using an oil/water system.

Surfactant - Cleansing agent. Cosmetic products used to cleanse the skin utilise the surface-active action that produces a lowering of the surface tension of the stratum corneum, facilitating the removal of dirt and impurities. 

Steareth-2 studies

Typical commercial product characteristics Polyethylene Glycol Octadecyl Ether

Appearance	White crystals
Boiling Point	~43*C
Melting Point	56-60ºC
Flash Point	154.2ºC
Density	0.867g/cm3
Safety

• Molecular Formula  C₂₂H₄₆O₃
• Molecular Weight     228.243
• CAS  9005-00-9
• UNII    V56DFE46J5
• EC Number   500-017-8
• DSSTox Substance ID  
• IUPAC  2-(2-octadecoxyethoxy)ethanol
• InChI=1S/C22H46O3/c1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-19-24-21-22-25-20-18-23/h23H,2-22H2,1H3 
• InChl Key      ILCOCZBHMDEIAI-UHFFFAOYSA-N
• SMILES   CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCOCCOCCO
• MDL number  
• PubChem Substance ID    
• ChEBI  
• NACRES NA.24  
• RTECS  

Synonyms:

• Lipocol S-2
• Brij
• Procol SA-2
• Polyethylene Glycol Octadecyl Ether