No fungal-acne, pore-clogging, fragrance or drying-alcohol flags for PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil in our reference data.
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is a nonionic surfactant derived from hydrogenated castor oil reacted with ethylene oxide, widely used to dissolve fragrances and oils into water-based formulations and to stabilize emulsions. It functions as a base/formulation ingredient rather than a treatment active.
| Reported effect | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Skin irritation | Uncommon | Mild stinging or redness possible, more likely on compromised or sensitive skin. |
Allergic contact dermatitis | Rare | Sensitization reported in patch-test studies, sometimes linked to residual impurities. |
Contact urticaria | Very rare | Isolated case reports of hives following exposure. |
Frequencies reflect typical cosmetic use reported in the literature, not a guarantee for your skin.
Peer-reviewed papers on this ingredient, via PubMed.