Polyethylene Terephthalate

Polyethylene Terephthalate 1
Polyethylene Terephthalate 2
AKA: PET, Polyethylene terephthalate resin
Synthetic
Occlusive
Clean
Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyloxycarbonyl-1,4-phenylenecarbonyl)
CAS #
25038-59-9
Form
Powder
Functions
Film Forming
Creates a physical seal on skin to lock moisture in and keep irritants out. The "slugging" ingredient — barrier protection.
Creates Protective Barrier
Locks In Moisture
Fights Bacteria
Traditional Use
A polyester plastic polymer developed commercially in the mid-20th century. Historically used as microbeads in exfoliating products before being phased out due to environmental concerns.
EWG
1
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not an Irritant
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USA✔ permitted
EU⚠ restricted
JAPAN⚠ restricted
CANADA⚠ restricted
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️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