PEG-20 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
AKA “Polyethylene Glycol 20 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-20 HCO”
Essential Oil
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Ingredient Facts
Peg-20 hydrogenated castor oil
AKA: Polyethylene Glycol 20 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-20 HCO
Essential Oil · Surfactant - Cleansing | Surfactant - Emulsifying · EWG: 4
Plant-Derived
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Plant Oil
Essential Oil
Not Clean
Hydrogenated castor oil helps cleanse and blend ingredients together, keeping formulas smooth and effective.
Family
Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family)
Plant Part
Seed
CAS #
61788-85-0
Form
Oil
Plant-Derived
Botanical. Native to India. Derived from castor oil seeds from the Euphorbiaceae family, primarily grown in India.
Produced through hydrogenation of castor oil, then polyethylene glycol chains are added via ethoxylation.
Plant Source
Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family)
Plant Part
Seed
Function
Surfactant - Cleansing | Surfactant - Emulsifying
Benefits
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.
Skin Types
all-skin-types
Best For
Target
General
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
Pregnancy Safe
Yes
EWG Score4
CIR Safety Findings
medical-approval, all-shades-safe, Not a Sensitizer
Concentration Guide
Industry Max
Industry typically uses up to 0.5% in leave-on products (5 products reported). Source: CIR Safety Assessment (CIR Seq 622).
Regulatory Agencies
Verified Feb 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR