PEG-50 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Succinate
AKA: Polyethylene glycol castor oil succinate, PEG-50 HCO succinate
Plant-Derived
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Plant Oil
Not Clean
Castor oil (Ricinus communis), hydrogenated, ethoxylated, butanedioate (50 mol EO average molar ratio)
Effective at 20.0%
Family
Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family)
Plant Part
Seed
CAS #
61788-85-0
Form
Oil
Functions
Emulsifying
Forces oil and water to stay mixed instead of separating into layers. The unsung hero holding your lotion together.
Viscosity Controlling
Emulsifier
Controls Viscosity
Mixes oil and water
Controls product thickness
Traditional Use
A modern synthetic surfactant created by combining polyethylene glycol with hydrogenated castor oil and succinic acid. Developed in the latter half of the 20th century to enhance emulsification and stabilization in cosmetic and personal care products.
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
0.002%
40.0%
0%56%
Reported use
CIR reported use: 0.002-0.003 | 1-40
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