PEG-14 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient primarily functions as a water-soluble humectant and solvent, helping hold moisture while improving the dissolution and spread of other formula components.
What does PEG-14 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient primarily functions as a water-soluble humectant and solvent, helping hold moisture while improving the dissolution and spread of other formula components.
Is PEG-14 clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it has friction because it is ethoxylated and may require controls for residual ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane. It is generally well tolerated on skin, but many stricter retailer and certification frameworks limit or exclude this material class.
Is PEG-14 sustainable?
This material is typically petrochemical-derived and made through synthetic processing rather than renewable feedstocks. It is water soluble and not expected to bioaccumulate, but its biodegradability and overall environmental profile are less favorable than many simpler plant-derived humectants.
Is PEG-14 COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards because its manufacture relies on ethoxylation. From a Green Chemistry lens, the main drawbacks are nonrenewable feedstock dependence and the need for tight impurity control, even though the final material is generally low-odor and water soluble.
How does PEG-14 work chemically?
This molecule is a nonionic, water-soluble polyether with an average chain length of about 14 oxyethylene units, giving it strong hydrogen-bonding capacity and good compatibility with aqueous systems. It is generally stable across typical cosmetic pH ranges and is usually used at low single-digit percentages as a humectant, solvent, or formula-feel modifier.
Last updated 2026-05-15