PEG-40 Stearate

PEG-40 Stearate is a polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid used in personal care formulations. It blends oil and water phases, stabilizes textures in creams and lotions, and improves spreadability in rinse-off and leave-on products.
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Ingredient Snapshot

Overview
Helps creams glide on smoothly with less greasiness.
Category
Emulsifying
Type
Emulsifier

Ingredient Ratings

Overall Rating

Good

Comedogenic Risk

None

Skin Benefits

Gives products a smoother glide and more elegant skin feel, helping reduce greasiness. Helps prevent uneven application for a more consistent finish.

Uses In Skincare & Cosmetics

Often included in sunscreens, makeup primers, and cleansing balms to keep textures refined and easy to apply.

Comedogenic Rating

This ingredient is not typically evaluated for comedogenicity, and no standardized rating is available.

Safety

Generally low irritation at usual use levels; may cause mild eye or skin stinging in very sensitive individuals. No common regulatory restrictions in leave-on or rinse-off cosmetics when properly formulated.

Is PEG-40 Stearate a Good Ingredient?

Rated Good as a reliable nonionic emulsifier that stabilizes oil-in-water systems and improves spreadability. It performs consistently across typical cosmetic pH ranges and is generally well tolerated, which supports the Good rating without pushing it higher.

Products with PEG-40 Stearate

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