Polyglyceryl-5 Ricinoleate

AKA: Castor Oil Polyglyceryl-5 Ester

Synthetic

Cleanser

Emulsifier

Not Clean

OriginDerived from ricinoleic acid (a fatty acid from castor oil) and polyglycerol, a synthetic polymer. Synthesized through esterification reaction between ricinoleic acid and polyglycerol containing five glycerin units.

Polyglyceryl-5 Ricinoleate is the product obtained by the reaction of Ricinoleic Acid with a glycerin polymer containing 5 glycerin units

Skin Types

●all-skin-types

Best For

General

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe

Yes

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.

Cleansing Surfactant

Emulsifier

Removes Impurities

Mixes Oil & Water

The paper trail

🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →

⚖️Regulatory1 listing →

🛡️Safety-assessed1 review →

Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.

EWG

CIR

Safe as used

Pregnancy

Yes

Concentration Guide

CIR lists it as not reported to be in use.

CIR · report published 2023

Regulatory Status

USA✔ permitted

EU⚠ restricted

JAPAN⚠ restricted

CANADA⚠ restricted

Regulatory Agencies

EWG CIR FDA EU COSING Health Canada

Verified Jun 2026

Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR