Ceteth-20 phosphate is a mild cleaning agent made from chemical combinations of phosphoric acid and the mild fatty alcohol cetyl alcohol. It is most often mixed with emulsifiers to help create and maintain the stability of liquid emulsions.
On the other hand, ceteth-20-phosphate can also be combined with thicker emulsifiers and emollients to control the viscosity and improve the stability of cream formulas. Mixtures containing this ingredient are typically recommended for use between 2-4% concentrations.
Ceteth-20-phosphate can be animal or plant-derived or also synthetically produced. https://www.paulaschoice.com/ingredient-dictionary/ingredient-ceteth-20-phosphate.html?q=Ceteth-20&fdid=ingredients