PEG-10 Phytosterol ●
TL;DR. This ingredient primarily functions as a nonionic emulsifier and solubilizer, helping disperse oils, lipophilic actives, and fragrance components into water-based systems. It can also contribute light conditioning and barrier-supportive feel in skin and hair formulas.
What does PEG-10 Phytosterol do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient primarily functions as a nonionic emulsifier and solubilizer, helping disperse oils, lipophilic actives, and fragrance components into water-based systems. It can also contribute light conditioning and barrier-supportive feel in skin and hair formulas.
Is PEG-10 Phytosterol clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient has friction because it is made through ethoxylation, a process associated with residual ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane controls. It is generally considered low in direct irritation when well purified, but many stricter standards flag this material class for processing-residue reasons.
Is PEG-10 Phytosterol sustainable?
This material combines a plant-derived lipid backbone with petrochemical-derived ethoxylated units, so its sourcing profile is mixed. Biodegradability is less straightforward than simple plant oils or fatty alcohols, and wastewater fate depends on the full ethoxylated structure and purification profile.
Is PEG-10 Phytosterol COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic because ethoxylated ingredients are outside the standard. From a Green Chemistry lens, the renewable portion is a plus, but the petrochemical ethoxylation step and residue-management burden weaken its alignment.
How does PEG-10 Phytosterol work chemically?
The molecule is an amphiphilic nonionic surfactant built from a bulky steroidal lipid core attached to an average chain of about 10 ethoxy units, giving it oil affinity plus water dispersibility. It is typically used at low percentages as a solubilizer or co-emulsifier and is broadly compatible across cosmetic pH ranges, with quality control focused on residual ethoxylation byproducts.
Last updated 2026-05-13