The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety (Panel) considered whether the safety of PEG Stearate ingredients as used in cosmetics should be reassessed. These ingredients are reported to function primarily as surfactants and emollients. The Panel reviewed newly available animal and human data related to these ingredients. The Panel concluded that the PEG Stearates are safe as cosmetic ingredients in the practices of use and concentrations described in the safety assessment.
ElderRL, ed. Final Report on the Safety Assessment of PEG 2, 6, 8, -12, -20, -32, -40, -50, -100, and -150 Stearates. J Am Coll Toxicol. 1983;2(7):17-34.
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition (CFSAN).Voluntary Cosmetic Registration Program - frequency of use of cosmetic ingredients. College Park, MD [Obtained under the Freedom of Information Act from CFSAN; requested as “Frequency of Use Data” January 4, 2023; received February 2, 2023]; 2023.
4.
Personal Care Products Council. Concentration of use by FDA product category: PEG Stearates. [Unpublished data submitted by Personal Care Products Council on February 22, 2023]; 2023.
5.
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). ECHA Dossier: fatty acids, C16-18, esters with diethylene glycol. CAS No. 85116-97-8; 2023. Date Accessed: Aug 2024.
6.
CasiraghiADi GrigoliMCilurzoFGennariCGMRossoniGMinghettiP. The influence of the polar head and the hydrophobic chain on the skin penetration enhancement effect of poly (ethylene glycol) derivatives. AAPS PharmSciTech. 2012;13(1):247-253.