PEG-15 Cocamine
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: Polyethylene Glycol 15 Cocamine, Conditioning Agent
Synthetic
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Plant Oil
Clean
Amines, coco alkyl, ethoxylated (15 mol EO average molar ratio)
Effective at 1.05%
CAS #
61791-14-8
Functions
Cleansing
Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.
Emulsifying
Forces oil and water to stay mixed instead of separating into layers. The unsung hero holding your lotion together.
Cleansing Surfactant
Emulsifier
Removes Impurities
Mixes Oil & Water
Traditional Use
Developed in the mid-20th century as a synthetic emulsifier and surfactant derived from coconut oil. Coconut has traditional use in South Asian skincare, but this PEG-modified version was created to enhance solubility and conditioning properties in cosmetic formulations.
EWG
2
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
0.8%
1.3%
0%2%
Reported use
CIR reported use: 0.8-1.3
Regulatory Agencies
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewednone on file
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed3 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR