POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL

📋 Quick facts

Description: POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL — Polyethylene glycol (PEG; ) is a polyether compound derived from petroleum with many applications, from industrial manufacturing to medicine. PEG is also known as polyethylene oxide (PEO) or polyoxyethylene (POE), depending on its molecular weight. The structure of PEG is commonly expressed as H−(O−CH2−CH2)n−OH..

Quick Facts:

• Category: other
• Also Known As: PEG, Polyethylene Glycol
• Regulatory Note: Restricted in the US

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• PEG is a polymer widely used in cosmetics, foods, and medicines as an additive and carrier
• In topical skincare products, PEG acts as a penetration enhancer, surfactant, emulsifier, humectant, and skin conditioner
• PEGylated oils (PEG-40 and PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil) are considered safe for cosmetic use up to 100% concentration
• Hypersensitivity to PEG in everyday products like cosmetics appears to be very rare despite widespread use
• Some PEG types are hydrophilic (water-loving), which makes them useful in topical skincare formulations

⚗️ Chemical Overview

Ethylene glycol is a synthetic liquid substance that absorbs water. It is odorless, but has a sweet taste. Ethylene glycol is used to make antifreeze and de-icing solutions for cars, airplanes, and boats. It is also used in hydraulic brake fluids and inks used in stamp pads, ballpoint pens, and print shops. Ethylene glycol (ingested) can cause developmental toxicity according to The National Toxicology Program. Ethylene glycol is a clear, colorless syrupy liquid. The primary hazard is the threat to the environment. Immediate steps should be taken to limit its spread to the environment. Since it is a liquid it can easily penetrate the soil and contaminate groundwater and nearby streams.

Source(s): Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), CAMEO Chemicals, via PubChem

📊 Comedogenicity

🛡️ Safety rating

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🌍 Regulatory Status

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Polyethylene glycol, or PEG, is a polymer—a chain-like molecule—made by condensing ethylene oxide with water, and it can be modified into various derivatives depending on its intended use (Toxicol Res, 2015). In skincare and cosmetics, PEG performs multiple functions: #1: it acts as a penetration enhancer, helping other ingredients absorb into skin, #2: it serves as a surfactant and emulsifier to mix oil and water-based ingredients, #3: it functions as a humectant to help skin retain moisture, and #4: it conditions skin (Toxicol Res, 2015). These roles are possible because many types of PEG are hydrophilic, meaning they attract water.

When it comes to safety in skincare products specifically, the research is reassuring. PEGylated oils—particularly PEG-40 and PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oils, which are common cosmetic ingredients—have been recommended as safe for use in cosmetics at concentrations up to 100% (Toxicol Res, 2015). PEG-20 glyceryl triisostearate is also considered safe for cosmetic use based on available studies (Toxicol Res, 2015). It’s worth noting that while PEG can trigger immune responses in certain medical contexts—specifically when conjugated with proteins or nanoparticles in injectable formulations—hypersensitivity to PEG in everyday consumer products like cosmetics appears very rare when you consider how widely it’s used (Folia Med Cracov, 2021).

The hypersensitivity reactions that have been documented in medical literature relate primarily to intravenous or injected PEG-based formulations rather than topical skincare use. One source does mention that PEG/PPG-17/6 copolymer, another PEG variant used in cosmetics, warrants further safety research to fully establish its profile (Toxicol Res, 2015).

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Ibrahim M et al. (2022). Polyethylene glycol (PEG): The nature, immunogenicity, and role in the hypersensitivity of PEGylated products. J Control Release.
• Czarnobilska M et al. (2021). Hypersensitivity to polyethylene glycol (PEG). Folia Med Cracov.
• Ieven T et al. (2023). Endotyping of IgE-Mediated Polyethylene Glycol and/or Polysorbate 80 Allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract.
• Badar W et al. (2026). Retrospective Comparison of Short- and Mid-Term Performance of 200-µm Polyethylene Glycol Microspheres vs Ethiodized Oil Emulsion for Genicular Artery Embolization in Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol.
• Jang HJ et al. (2015). Safety Evaluation of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Compounds for Cosmetic Use. Toxicol Res.

🧴 Products Containing POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL

• keri moisturising lotion
• Gel Gillette
• NyQuil COLD & FLU
• Gravol Liquid Gel Capsules
• Life Tolnaftate Cream USP, 1%
• Magnesium
• Spring Valley Women’s Multi With Fruits & Vegetables
• ferodul ferous sulfate
• allergy relief
• Dulcolax
• Family, Off!, SC Johnson OFF! Family Crema
• SciFit Hydro Lemon
• Raindrop, Raindrop clean group ltd Raindrop handwash
• OFF!,SC Johnson Family
• DENTEK Instant pain relief
• ICPA RA Thermoseal
• Extra Strength Allery Relief
• mouth fresh
• Herbal time хининов мицеларен шампоан
• allergy relief
• The vitamin shoppe Calcium Magnesium zinc
• L’Oréal, L’Oreal Consumer products, L’Oréal Paris, Elseve Elsève Homme Lotion Protectrice Fortifiante
• luckylily MASCARILLA SOS HIDRANTE E ILUMINADIRA