PEG-200 Castor Oil

AKA: Polyethylene Glycol 200 Castor Oil
Plant-Derived
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Plant Oil
Not Clean
Castor oil, ethoxylated (200 mol EO average molar ratio)
Family
Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family)
Plant Part
Seed
CAS #
61791-12-6
Form
Oil
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
Antioxidant
Anti-Inflammatory
Boosts Collagen
Lifts away dirt and oil
Mixes oil and water
Traditional Use
A modern synthetic emulsifier combining PEG with castor oil, which has been used in traditional medicine and cosmetics for thousands of years. Developed to stabilize castor oil in water-based products while preserving its traditional conditioning properties.
EWG
3
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USApermitted
EUrestricted
JAPANrestricted
CANADArestricted
Skin Types
all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewednone on file
⚖️Regulatory1 listing
🛡️Safety-assessed2 reviews
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR