PEG-20 Castor Oil
AKA “Polyethylene glycol 20 castor oil”
Carrier Oil
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Ingredient Facts
Peg-20 castor oil
AKA: Polyethylene glycol 20 castor oil
Carrier Oil · Cleansing · EWG: 3
Plant-Derived
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Plant Oil
Not Clean
Castor oil, ethoxylated (20 mol EO average molar ratio)
Family
Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family)
Plant Part
Seed
CAS #
61791-12-6
Form
Oil
See origin →
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.
Surfactant Cleansing
Surfactant Emulsifying
Moisturizing
Strengthens Barrier
Lifts away dirt and oil
Mixes oil and water
Traditional Use
Synthetic emulsifier developed by ethoxylating castor oil in the 20th century. Castor oil has been used medicinally for thousands of years, but this derivative was engineered for modern cosmetic emulsification.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
Dryness
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
3
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Agencies
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR