FRIGHTFUL 15: #6 POLYETHYLENE GLYCOLS
What Is It and Why in Skincare and Personal Care Products?
Polyethylene glycols, commonly referred to as PEGs are polymers of ethylene oxide that do a variety of functions in cosmetics based on their molecular weight. PEGs are used in cosmetic formulations as thickeners, solvents, softeners, and moisture-carriers. A “penetration enhancer,” PEGs increase the permeability of the skin to allow greater absorption of a product — including harmful ingredients. They can cause allergic reactions.
PEGs are typically followed by a number correlating to how many units of ethylene glycol they’re made up of, i.e. PEG-4 or PEG-100; the lower the number, the more easily the compound is absorbed into the skin.
So What’s So Bad?
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) panel, an expert panel that evaluates the safety of ingredients used in cosmetics and personal care items, concluded that PEGs should not be used on damaged skin as absorption is enhanced. In burn victims the use of ointments containing PEGs resulted in kidney damage and eventual death.
The Expert Panel also expressed concern regarding the possible presence of ethylene oxide and trace amounts of 1,4-dioxane as impurities. They stressed that the cosmetic industry should continue to use the necessary purification procedures to remove these impurities from the ingredient before blending it into cosmetic formulations.
VERDAUD does not contain any PEGs.
(Sources:
https://www.cir-safety.org/ingredients
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/endocrine/definitions/affect_en.htm)