PEG-5 PENTAERYTHRITYL ETHER ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a water-soluble humectant and solvent or coupling agent, helping formulas hold water and keep polar materials evenly distributed. It can also improve slip and skin feel in leave-on and rinse-off products.
What does PEG-5 PENTAERYTHRITYL ETHER do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a water-soluble humectant and solvent or coupling agent, helping formulas hold water and keep polar materials evenly distributed. It can also improve slip and skin feel in leave-on and rinse-off products.
Is PEG-5 PENTAERYTHRITYL ETHER clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it has friction because it is made by ethoxylation, a process associated with trace ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane residues unless tightly purified. Direct irritation potential is generally low, but many restricted-list frameworks scrutinize this material class.
Is PEG-5 PENTAERYTHRITYL ETHER sustainable?
This material is typically petroleum-derived, so its renewable-feedstock profile is limited. Its small, water-soluble polyether structure may biodegrade more readily than larger synthetic polymers, but environmental performance depends on chain length and wastewater conditions.
Is PEG-5 PENTAERYTHRITYL ETHER COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic because ethoxylated materials fall outside the standard’s allowed chemistry. Its Green Chemistry fit is weak due to petrochemical inputs, added purification burden for process residues, and incomplete biodegradability alignment.
How does PEG-5 PENTAERYTHRITYL ETHER work chemically?
The molecule is a compact nonionic polyether built on a tetrafunctional alcohol core with an average of five oxyethylene units, which gives high water affinity and good compatibility with many surfactant systems. It is generally stable across typical cosmetic pH ranges, while long storage can require normal controls for polyether peroxide formation.
Last updated 2026-05-15