PEG-20 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Laurate
AKA: Castor Oil Derivative
Plant-Derived
Skin Conditioner
Plant Oil
Not Clean
Castor oil (Ricinus communis), hydrogenated, ethoxylated, monododecanoate (20 mol EO average molar ratio)
Effective at 0.28%
Family
Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family)
Plant Part
Seed
CAS #
61788-85-0
Form
Oil
Functions
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Locks in moisture
Traditional Use
A synthetic cosmetic emulsifier created by combining hydrogenated castor oil, lauric acid, and polyethylene glycol. Developed in the late 20th century to replace animal-derived emulsifiers while maintaining the historical benefits of castor oil in skincare.
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
0.05%
0.5%
0%1%
Reported use
CIR reported use: 0.05-0.5
Regulatory Agencies
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewednone on file
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed1 review →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR