Peg-10 Dimethicone ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily a nonionic emulsifier and interfacial stabilizer for water-in-oil systems. It helps stabilize droplets, disperse pigments, improve slip, and reduce tack in creams, sunscreens, makeup, and conditioners.
What does Peg-10 Dimethicone do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is primarily a nonionic emulsifier and interfacial stabilizer for water-in-oil systems. It helps stabilize droplets, disperse pigments, improve slip, and reduce tack in creams, sunscreens, makeup, and conditioners.
Is Peg-10 Dimethicone clean?
This ingredient often lands on restricted lists in stricter clean standards because it is ethoxylated and uses a poorly biodegradable synthetic polymer backbone. The main clean-beauty concerns are residual processing impurities and environmental persistence, not high irritation potential in finished formulas.
Is Peg-10 Dimethicone sustainable?
It is made from synthetic, nonrenewable feedstocks, with both petrochemical and mineral-derived inputs. It is not readily biodegradable, so its sustainability profile is weaker than plant-derived or readily degradable emulsifiers.
Is Peg-10 Dimethicone COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted in COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic products because the standard does not accept this type of synthetic polymer and ethoxylated chemistry. Its Green Chemistry fit is limited by nonrenewable sourcing, impurity-control needs, and low biodegradability.
How does Peg-10 Dimethicone work chemically?
The molecule is a nonionic comb polymer with a hydrophobic flexible backbone and short hydrophilic side chains, which lets it sit at oil-water interfaces and stabilize droplets. Typical use is about 0.5 to 5% in emulsions or pigment dispersions, and it is broadly stable across normal cosmetic pH ranges when sourced to tight residual-impurity specifications.
Last updated 2026-05-13