PEG-1M ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a very high-molecular-weight, water-soluble polymer used as a binder, film former, lubricant, and viscosity builder. It helps products feel smoother and can improve structure in gels, creams, hair products, and oral-care formulas.
What does PEG-1M do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a very high-molecular-weight, water-soluble polymer used as a binder, film former, lubricant, and viscosity builder. It helps products feel smoother and can improve structure in gels, creams, hair products, and oral-care formulas.
Is PEG-1M clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it often faces restrictions because it is made through ethoxylation, a process associated with residual ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane if purification is poor. It is generally low in skin irritation due to its large molecular size, but strict standards commonly flag the manufacturing chemistry.
Is PEG-1M sustainable?
This material is usually petrochemical-derived and is water soluble, with low bioaccumulation expected. Its very large polymer size and limited ready biodegradability weaken its environmental profile compared with simpler renewable materials.
Is PEG-1M COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted in COSMOS natural or organic products because it is an ethoxylated synthetic polymer. Its Green Chemistry fit is limited by fossil feedstocks, reactive processing chemistry, and weaker biodegradability, even though it is typically used at low levels.
How does PEG-1M work chemically?
The molecule is a nonionic polyether built from repeating oxyethylene units, with an unusually high molecular weight that gives strong film-forming, slip, and thickening behavior in water. It is broadly stable in typical cosmetic pH ranges, can be slow to hydrate, and usually needs careful dispersion to prevent clumping in aqueous formulas.
Last updated 2026-05-13