Beheneth-2
AKA “Nikkol BB-2, Beheneth-2 [INCI], UNII-891IAM9Z9D, Ethanol, RefChem:116883, DTXCID80102096”
Synthetic
Ingredient Facts
Beheneth-2
AKA: Nikkol BB-2, Beheneth-2 [INCI], UNII-891IAM9Z9D, Ethanol, RefChem:116883, DTXCID80102096
Synthetic · Emollient · EWG: 2
Synthetic
Emollient
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Skin Conditioner
Synthetic
Clean
A gentle helper that blends oil and water together, keeping your product smooth and easy to apply from bottle to skin.
Effective at 2.5%
Formula
C26H54O3
Mol. Weight
414.70
CAS #
-
See origin →
Functions
Emulsifying
Forces oil and water to stay mixed instead of separating into layers. The unsung hero holding your lotion together.
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Emollient
Fills in the tiny cracks between skin cells to make everything feel smooth and soft. The "silky finish" ingredient.
Emulsifier
Mixes Oil & Water
Traditional Use
A synthetic polyethylene glycol derivative of behenic acid developed in the 20th century as a modern emulsifier and surfactant for cosmetics, with no traditional use history.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types, gentle
Best For
General
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
2
CIR
Safe
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
ewg-2
medical-approval
pregnancy-nursing-safe
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
0.0008%
5.0%
0%7%
Effective Range
CIR reported use: 0.0008-5 | 0.003-0.6 | 0.03-3 | 0.02-0.3 | 0.5-5
Regulatory Agencies
Final Amended Report on the Safety Assessment of 2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol HCl and 2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol Sulfate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Amended Report on the Safety Assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl Thioglycolate, Glyceryl Thioglycolate, Isooctyl T
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of 2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol Dihydrochloride
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of 3-Methylamino-4-Nitrophenoxyethanol as Used in Hair Dyes
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Butoxyethanol
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Ethoxyethanol and Ethoxyethanol Acetate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Phenoxyethanol
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Potassium-Coco-Hydrolyzed Animal Protein and Triethanolamine-Coco-Hydrolyzed Animal Protein
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Triethanolamine, Diethanolamine, and Monoethanolamine
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report: Amended Safety Assessment of 2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol HCl and 2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol Sulfate as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Safety Assessment of Diethanolamides as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Safety Assessment of Diethanolamine and Its Salts as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Safety Assessment of Ethanolamides as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Safety Assessment of Ethanolamine and Ethanolamine Salts as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Safety Assessment of Triethanolamine and Triethanolamine-Containing Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Tentative Report: Amended Safety Assessment of Butoxyethanol as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Phenoxyethanol Safety Assessment
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Safety review of phenoxyethanol when used as a preservati...
B Dréno, T Zuberbier, C Gelmetti, G Gontijo, M Marinovich
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV, 2019
2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol HCl
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol Sulfate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Safety Assessment of Diethanolamine and Its Salts as Used...
Monice M Fiume, Bart Heldreth, Wilma F Bergfeld, Donald V Belsito, Ronald A Hill, Curtis D Klaassen + 6 more
International journal of toxicology, 2017
Safety Assessment of Diethanolamine and Its Salts as Used...
Monice M Fiume, Bart Heldreth, Wilma F Bergfeld, Donald V Belsito, Ronald A Hill, Curtis D Klaassen + 6 more
International journal of toxicology, 2017
Safety Assessment of Diethanolamine and Its Salts as Used...
Monice M Fiume, Bart Heldreth, Wilma F Bergfeld, Donald V Belsito, Ronald A Hill, Curtis D Klaassen + 6 more
International journal of toxicology, 2017
Verified Feb 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR