PEG-150 STEARATE
PEG-150 Stearate is a substance made from a polyethylene glycol chain linked to stearate, the part associated with stearic acid. It is not free stearic acid: attaching PEG creates a molecule that can interact with both water and oily materials.
PEG-150 STEARATE: what it is
PEG-150 Stearate is a substance made from a polyethylene glycol chain linked to stearate, the part associated with stearic acid. It is not free stearic acid: attaching PEG creates a molecule that can interact with both water and oily materials.
The “150” is not the amount present in a product. In the name, it indicates the average number of ethylene oxide units used to characterize the PEG chain. That detail distinguishes PEG-150 Stearate from PEG stearates carrying other numbers; an ingredient list does not identify the raw-material origin used for a particular batch.
PEG-150 STEARATE: what it does in cosmetics
PEG-150 Stearate is used in cleansing products as a surfactant. In practical terms, it helps water spread and contact oily residue, helping the cleansing base carry that residue away during rinsing. This concerns how a formula behaves while washing, rather than a treatment effect on skin.
In a rinse-off gel or wash, its presence may support the removal of surface dirt and oil. It does not by itself promise hydration, acne control, or wrinkle improvement; those expectations would require evidence for the finished product and its other components.
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
