PEG-5 Ethylhexonoate

PEG-5 Ethylhexonoate is a PEG-modified ethylhexanoate ester used in cosmetics as a lightweight emollient. It adds silky slip, improves spreadability, and helps active ingredients disperse evenly in creams, serums, and color formulas.
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Ingredient Snapshot

Overview
A lightweight ester that gives creams a silky, non-tacky glide.
Category
Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying
Type
Emollient

Ingredient Ratings

Overall Rating

Good

Comedogenic Risk

None

Skin Benefits

Leaves skin feeling velvety and lightweight while reducing tackiness in leave-on products. Promotes smooth, uniform glide for an even look and feel.

Uses In Skincare & Cosmetics

Common in moisturizers, primers, and liquid foundations to improve slip and comfort. Also used in serums to improve application aesthetics.

Comedogenic Rating

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

Safety

Considered low risk for irritation, though PEG-containing ingredients can occasionally bother very sensitive or compromised skin. Manufacturers typically control residual impurities (such as 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide byproducts) to meet cosmetic safety standards.

Is PEG-5 Ethylhexonoate a Good Ingredient?

Rated Good for its light, silky emolliency and improved spreadability without heaviness, which supports stable aesthetics in creams and color formulas. It's generally well tolerated with low irritation potential, though its case rests on texture rather than treatment claims.

Products with PEG-5 Ethylhexonoate

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