PEG-180
PEG-180 is a polyethylene glycol: a chain made from ethylene oxide units with water-derived end groups. It is not an oil or a botanical extract, but a hydrophilic polymer from a family of substances that interacts readily with water and can be used in personal-care products.
PEG-180: what it is
PEG-180 is a polyethylene glycol: a chain made from ethylene oxide units with water-derived end groups. It is not an oil or a botanical extract, but a hydrophilic polymer from a family of substances that interacts readily with water and can be used in personal-care products.
The number 180 distinguishes this member of the family from other PEGs: on average, it refers to 180 ethylene oxide units in the chain. PEG-180 is therefore not interchangeable by name with PEG-8, PEG-40, or PEG-200; the numbers identify materials with different average sizes, which can behave differently physically.
PEG-180: what it does in cosmetics
In a cosmetic, PEG-180 can work as a solvent. In practical terms, it can help certain components dissolve or remain distributed through the product base instead of separating easily. That supports a uniform formula and the way the product carries its other components.
It is also classed as a humectant, meaning a substance that helps hold water in the preparation itself. That behavior can support a texture that does not dry out as quickly in a jar or tube; it does not turn PEG-180 on its own into a treatment for dryness, acne, wrinkles, or any skin disease.
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
