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Polyethylene
AKA “Polyethene, Low-Density Polyethylene, High-Density Polyethylene”
Ingredient
Ingredient Facts
Polyethylene
AKA: Polyethene, Low-Density Polyethylene, High-Density Polyethylene
Ingredient · Film Forming · EWG: 1
Synthetic
Occlusive
Clean
Homopolymer of ethylene monomers
CAS #
9002-88-4
Form
Powder
See origin →
Functions
Abrasive
Film Forming
Creates a physical seal on skin to lock moisture in and keep irritants out. The "slugging" ingredient — barrier protection.
Viscosity Controlling
Moisturizing
Strengthens Barrier
Gently polishes surface
Creates protective layer
Controls product thickness
Traditional Use
Synthesized in 1933 by accident at Imperial Chemical Industries. Adopted in cosmetics in the 1960s-1970s as a thickening agent, film-former, and microbeads for exfoliating products (now restricted in many countries).
Skin Types
●all-skin-types, gentle
Best For
Uneven Texture
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
1
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
ewg-1
medical-approval
pregnancy-nursing-safe
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USA✔ permitted
EU⚠ restricted
JAPAN⚠ restricted
CANADA⚠ restricted
Comfort Level Lip Mask
Credo Beauty
 →
Deluxe Baby Cheeks Blush Stick - Bichette
Westman Atelier
 →
Petite Petal Edition
Westman Atelier
 →
Lit Up Highlight Stick - Pärla
Westman Atelier
 →
Lit Up Highlight Stick - Garçonne
Westman Atelier
 →
Deluxe Baby Cheeks Blush Stick
Westman Atelier
 →
Lit Up Highlight Stick - Biscuit
Westman Atelier
 →
Lit Up Highlight Stick - Nectar
Westman Atelier
 →
Lit Up Highlight Stick - Brûlée
Westman Atelier
 →
Lit Up Highlight Stick - Lit
Westman Atelier
 →
Face Trace Contour Stick - Truffle
Westman Atelier
 →
Face Trace Contour Stick - Biscuit
Westman Atelier
 →
Face Trace Contour Stick - Ganache
Westman Atelier
 →
Vital Skin Foundation Stick - Atelier 0
Westman Atelier
 →
Baby Cheeks Blush Stick - Chouchette
Westman Atelier
 →
Baby Cheeks Blush Stick - Bichette
Westman Atelier
 →
Baby Cheeks Blush Stick - Garçonne
Westman Atelier
 →
Baby Cheeks Blush Stick - Coquette
Westman Atelier
 →
Cruise Liner Eye Pencil
Gen See
 →
Arch Support Brow Powder Gel
Gen See
 →
Pick Me Up Lip Matte Lipstick
Gen See
 →
Clean Sheen Cheek + Lip Color
Gen See
 →
Clean Line Gel Liner
ILIA Beauty
 →
In Full Micro-Tip Brow Pencil
ILIA Beauty
 →
Skin Rewind Complexion Stick
ILIA Beauty
 →
Autograph Matte Lipstick
Finding Ferdinand
 →
Barely There Sheer Lipstick
Finding Ferdinand
 →
Custom Blush
Finding Ferdinand
 →
Custom Lip Gloss
Finding Ferdinand
 →
Delicious Balms
Finding Ferdinand
 →
Morphosis Balms
Finding Ferdinand
 →
Photoshoot Red
Finding Ferdinand
 →
Tender Blush
Finding Ferdinand
 →
Delicate Gloss
Finding Ferdinand
 →
Final Report of the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel Amended Safety Assessment of Triethylene Glycol and Polyethylene glycols (PEGs)-4, -6, -7, -8, -9, -10, -12, -14, -16, -18, -20, -32, -33, -
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of PEG (Polyethylene Glycol)-2, -4, -6, -8, -12, -20, -32, -75 and -150 Dilaurate; PEG-2, -4, -6, -8, -9, -10, -12, -14, -20, -32, -75, -150, and -200 Laurate; an
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Polyethylene
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs) -6, -8, -32, -75, -150, -14M, -20M
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Polyethylene
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Polyethylene Isoterephthalate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Polyethylene Terephthalate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Polyethylene
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Polyethylene Terephthalate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Safety assessment on polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and their derivatives as used in cosmetic products.
Fruijtier-Pölloth C
Toxicology, 2005
→
Safety assessment on polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and their derivatives as used in cosmetic products.
Fruijtier-Pölloth C
Toxicology, 2005
→
Safety assessment on polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and their derivatives as used in cosmetic products.
Fruijtier-Pölloth C
Toxicology, 2005
→
Safety assessment on polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and their derivatives as used in cosmetic products.
Fruijtier-Pölloth C
Toxicology, 2005
→
Safety assessment on polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and their derivatives as used in cosmetic products.
Fruijtier-Pölloth C
Toxicology, 2005
→
Safety assessment on polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and their derivatives as used in cosmetic products.
Fruijtier-Pölloth C
Toxicology, 2005
→
Safety assessment on polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and their derivatives as used in cosmetic products.
Fruijtier-Pölloth C
Toxicology, 2005
→
Safety assessment on polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and their derivatives as used in cosmetic products.
Fruijtier-Pölloth C
Toxicology, 2005
→
Safety assessment on polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and their derivatives as used in cosmetic products.
Fruijtier-Pölloth C
Toxicology, 2005
→
Safety assessment on polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and their derivatives as used in cosmetic products.
Fruijtier-Pölloth C
Toxicology, 2005
→
Safety assessment on polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and their derivatives as used in cosmetic products.
Fruijtier-Pölloth C
Toxicology, 2005
→
Safety assessment on polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and their derivatives as used in cosmetic products.
Fruijtier-Pölloth C
Toxicology, 2005
→
Safety assessment on polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and their derivatives as used in cosmetic products.
Fruijtier-Pölloth C
Toxicology, 2005
→
Safety assessment on polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and their derivatives as used in cosmetic products.
Fruijtier-Pölloth C
Toxicology, 2005
→
Safety assessment on polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and their derivatives as used in cosmetic products.
Fruijtier-Pölloth C
Toxicology, 2005
→
Safety assessment on polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and their derivatives as used in cosmetic products.
Fruijtier-Pölloth C
Toxicology, 2005
→
Safety Evaluation of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Compounds for Cosmetic Use.
Jang HJ, Shin CY, Kim KB
Toxicological research, 2015
→
Safety Evaluation of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Compounds for Cosmetic Use.
Jang HJ, Shin CY, Kim KB
Toxicological research, 2015
→
Safety Evaluation of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Compounds for Cosmetic Use.
Jang HJ, Shin CY, Kim KB
Toxicological research, 2015
→
Safety Evaluation of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Compounds for Cosmetic Use.
Jang HJ, Shin CY, Kim KB
Toxicological research, 2015
→
Safety Evaluation of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Compounds for Cosmetic Use.
Jang HJ, Shin CY, Kim KB
Toxicological research, 2015
→
Safety Evaluation of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Compounds for Cosmetic Use.
Jang HJ, Shin CY, Kim KB
Toxicological research, 2015
→
Safety Evaluation of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Compounds for Cosmetic Use.
Jang HJ, Shin CY, Kim KB
Toxicological research, 2015
→
Safety Evaluation of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Compounds for Cosmetic Use.
Jang HJ, Shin CY, Kim KB
Toxicological research, 2015
→
Safety Evaluation of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Compounds for Cosmetic Use.
Jang HJ, Shin CY, Kim KB
Toxicological research, 2015
→
Safety Evaluation of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Compounds for Cosmetic Use.
Jang HJ, Shin CY, Kim KB
Toxicological research, 2015
→
Safety Evaluation of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Compounds for Cosmetic Use.
Jang HJ, Shin CY, Kim KB
Toxicological research, 2015
→
Immediate Hypersensitivity to Polyethylene Glycols and Polysorbates: More Common Than We Have Recognized.
Stone CA Jr, Liu Y, Relling MV, Krantz MS, Pratt AL et al.
The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. In practice, 2019
→
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR