murphyPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil PCA Isostearate
AKA: Polyethylene Glycol 40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil PCA Isostearate
Plant-Derived
Skin Conditioner
Plant Oil
Not Clean
OriginNative to India. Derived from castor oil seeds (Ricinus communis, Euphorbiaceae family) primarily grown in India.
Produced through hydrogenation of castor oil, followed by ethoxylation and esterification with isostearic acid and pyrrolidone carboxylic acid.
Castor oil (Ricinus communis), hydrogenated, ethoxylated, diesters with isooctadecanoic acid and 2-pyrrolidinone-5-carboxylic acid (40 mol EO average molar ratio)
Family
Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family)
Plant Part
Seed
CAS #
61788-85-0
Form
Oil
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
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
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.
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
Concentration Guide
CIR's newest survey reports no concentration of use.
CIR · report published 2014
Regulatory Agencies
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR