PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a nonionic solubilizer and surfactant used to disperse fragrance oils, essential oils, and lipophilic actives into water-based formulas. It can also support mild emulsification and clarity in toners, mists, gels, and cleansers.
What does PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a nonionic solubilizer and surfactant used to disperse fragrance oils, essential oils, and lipophilic actives into water-based formulas. It can also support mild emulsification and clarity in toners, mists, gels, and cleansers.
Is PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient is often flagged because it is made through ethoxylation, which requires tight control for residual ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane. When highly purified it is generally well tolerated on skin, but it sits on many restricted or reviewed lists rather than the least-questioned category.
Is PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil sustainable?
This material has mixed sourcing, with a plant-lipid portion and a petrochemical portion introduced during processing. Its environmental profile is weaker than simple plant oils or sugar-based solubilizers because biodegradation can be slower and manufacturing depends on ethoxylation chemistry.
Is PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted in COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic certified formulas because ethoxylated materials are outside the standard. Its Green Chemistry fit is limited: part of the molecule can come from renewable feedstock, but the petrochemical reagent, residue controls, and less straightforward biodegradation are drawbacks.
How does PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil work chemically?
The molecule has a saturated triglyceride-based hydrophobic core with multiple polyether chains, giving a bulky nonionic amphiphile with a high HLB often reported around 14 to 16. Typical use is about 0.5 to 5% as a solubilizer, with higher ratios needed for fragrances, and it is generally stable across common cosmetic pH ranges but can form haze or viscosity shifts depending on electrolyte level, oil load, and temperature.
Last updated 2026-05-13