PEG-30 stearate ●
TL;DR. This ingredient primarily functions as a nonionic emulsifier and solubilizer, helping oil and water phases form stable oil-in-water creams, lotions, and cleansers. It can also add mild surfactant and texture-supporting effects.
What does PEG-30 stearate do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient primarily functions as a nonionic emulsifier and solubilizer, helping oil and water phases form stable oil-in-water creams, lotions, and cleansers. It can also add mild surfactant and texture-supporting effects.
Is PEG-30 stearate clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient has friction because it is made through ethoxylation, a process associated with trace-residue concerns such as ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane if purification is not well controlled. It is generally well tolerated on skin, but many clean frameworks restrict or do not accept this class of materials.
Is PEG-30 stearate sustainable?
This material usually combines a fatty acid source that may be plant, animal, or synthetic with a petrochemical-derived hydrophilic chain. Biodegradability is less favorable than simple fatty acid esters, and sourcing can carry palm-related traceability questions when the fatty portion is plant-derived.
Is PEG-30 stearate COSMOS-approved?
It is generally not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards because this type of ethoxylated material is outside the standard’s allowed chemistry. Its Green Chemistry fit is limited by petrochemical input, processing-residue controls, and only partial renewable-carbon potential.
How does PEG-30 stearate work chemically?
The molecule is a nonionic ester with a C18 fatty acyl lipophile attached to a hydrophilic chain averaging about 30 oxyethylene units, giving it a high-HLB profile suited to oil-in-water systems. It is commonly used around 1 to 5% for emulsification or solubilization, is usually processed in the heated phase until fully melted or dispersed, and is broadly stable across typical cosmetic pH ranges.
Last updated 2026-05-13