Castor oil, ethoxylated (15 mol EO average molar ratio)
Family
Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family)
Plant Part
Seed
CAS #
61791-12-6
Form
Oil
See origin →
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
Traditional Use
Castor oil has been used since ancient Egypt for skin and hair conditioning, but this ingredient is a modern synthetic derivative created by polyethylene glycol (PEG) modification in the 20th century to improve water solubility and emulsifying properties of castor oil.