PEG-20 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

AKA “Polyethylene Glycol 20 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-20 HCO”

Carrier Oil

Ingredient Facts

Peg-20 hydrogenated castor oil

AKA: Polyethylene Glycol 20 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-20 HCO

Carrier Oil · Cleansing · EWG: 4

Plant-Derived

Cleanser

Emulsifier

Plant Oil

Not Clean

Castor oil (Ricinus communis), hydrogenated, ethoxylated (20 mol EO average molar ratio)

Effective at 0.28%

Family

Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family)

Plant Part

Seed

CAS #

61788-85-0

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.

Surfactant Cleansing

Surfactant Emulsifying

Moisturizing

Strengthens Barrier

Lifts away dirt and oil

Mixes oil and water

Traditional Use

Castor oil has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic and traditional medicine as a skin softener and laxative. The PEG-20 hydrogenated version was developed in the mid-20th century to create a water-soluble emulsifier that maintains castor oil's conditioning properties.