In cosmetics and personal care products, PEG Stearates are used in skin creams, conditioners, shampoos, body cleansers. PEG-40 stearate is an octadecanoate ester composed of repeating 8-40 ethyleneoxy units. It is an ingredient used in cosmetics and beauty products primarily as a surfactant and emulsifier. It has a role as a non-ionic surfactant and an emulsifier.
What is PEG-40 STEARATE used for?
PEG-40 Stearate works as an emulsifier, cleanser, surfactant, and humectant in cosmetics and personal care products. It also functions as a lubricant and antistatic agent. It is used in dentifrices, creams, lotions, ointments, etc.
- Skin care: PEG-40 stearate can be used as a thickener, texture enhancer, or to keep ingredients soluble in addition to its usual role as a cleansing agent in skin care formulas. This component can be found in a wide range of skin care products, such as cleansers, creams, exfoliants, and serums.
Origin
PEG-40 Stearate is manufactured by the polymerization of ethylene oxide (EO) with water, monoethylene glycol or diethylene glycol, under alkaline conditions. It is manufactured by the ethoxylation of stearyl alcohol with the number of moles of ethylene oxide corresponding to the average polyethylene glycol chain length desired. Impurities found in various PEGs and PEG derivatives may include residual ethylene oxide, 1,4-dioxane, polycyclic aromatic compounds, and heavy metals.
Safety profile
The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that PEG-2, -6, -8, -12, -20, -32, -40, -50, -100 and -150 Stearates are safe for use in cosmetics and personal care products. The PEG Stearates, whose average number of ethylene oxide monomers range from 2 to 150, were nonlethal at levels up to 10 g/kg. They gave evidence of only minimal skin irritation and minimal eye irritation when tested at 100%. PEG-8, -40 and -100 Stearates produced no significant changes in growth, histopathologic observations or hematologic values in long-term feeding studies. Multiple generation studies of PEG-8 and -40 Stearates were negative for effects on reproduction.