PEG 100 STEARATE

PEG 100 STEARATE

CAS No. : 9004-99-3
EC No. : 618-405-1

Synonyms:
ETHYLENE OXIDE; 1,4-DIOXANE; PEG/PPG, Composé éthoxylé, Glycol, Polymère de synthèse, Tensioactif non ionique; PEG-100 stearate; peg-100; peg 100 sterat; polyethylene glycol (100) stearate; Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxooctadecyl)-.omega.-hydroxy- (100 mol EO average molar ratio); Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG-100 Stearate; Glikol stearat; polioksietilen 100 stearat; peg 100 stereat; polyoxyéthylene; peg100stearate; peg 100 stereate; Polyoxyethylene (100) stearate; Glycol stearate; 2-Hydroxyethyl stearate; 2-Hydroxyethyl octadecanoate; Ethylene glycol monostearate; Cremophor A; Polyethylene glycol monostearate; Cerasynt M; Clearate G; Cerasynt MN; Cithrol PS; Polyoxyl 100 stearate; Lactine; Polystate; Cithrol 10MS; Myrj; Cerasynt 660; Polystate B; Prodhybase P; Akyporox S 100; PEG stearate; Lamacit CAİ Soromin-SG; Emerest 26100; Stearoks 6; Stearoxa-6; Nikkol MYS; Stearox 6; Pegosperse S 9; Emanon 3113; Glycol monostearate; Myrj 45; Stenol 8; Arosurf 1855E100; Emcol H 35-A; PEG-8 Stearate; Monthybase; Monthyle; Parastarin; PEG-100 stearate; Ivorit; OCTADECANOIC ACID, 2-HYDROXYETHYL ESTER; Prodhybase 10000; Sedetol; Stearoks 920; Nikkol MYS 4; Nonion S 2; Nonion S 4; Tego-stearate; Stearox 920; Lipal 15S; Prodhybase ethyl; Lipo-Peg 4-S; Nikkol MYS 100; Nikkol MYS 45; Nikkol MYS-25; Nonex 28;Nonex 29; Nonex 36; Nonex 53; Nonex 54; Nonex 63; PEG-150 stearate; Prodhybas N; Trydet SA 100; Empilan CP-100; Empilan CQ-100; Nonion S 15; Polyoxyl 50 stearate; Clindrol SEG; Myrj 52S Ethofat 60/15; Perphinol 45/100; Trydet SA series; Ethoxylated stearic acid; Lipal 1000-S; Polyoxyethylene-8-monostearate; Polyethylene oxide monostearate; Ionet MS-1000; Lipo EGMS; Slovasol MKS 16; Emery 1539; Poly(oxyethylene) stearate; Polyoxyethylene(8)stearate; Emulphor VT-650; Polyethylene glycol stearate;Polyoxyethylene 50 stearate; Carbowax 1000 monostearate; Carbowax 10000 monostearate; PEG 100MS, Ethylene glycol stearate; Stabilisant delta-118; Poly(oxyethylene) stearic acid ester; Tegin G; Polyethylene oxide stearate; Polyoxyethylene monostearate; Macrogol stearate 200; Polyoxyethylate (9) stearic acid; Glycol stearate SE; Glycol monostearate SE; Stearic acid, monoester with ethylene glycol; Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxooctadecyl)-.omega.-hydroxy; 17-Hydroxy-3,6,9,12,15-pentaoxaheptadec-1-yl octadecanoate; alpha-(1-Oxooctadecyl)-omega-hydroxypoly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl);Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-1-(oxooctadecyl)-omega-hydroxy; Polyoxyl 8 stearate; Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-hydro-omega-hydroxy-, octadecanoate; 26-Hydroxy-3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24-octaoxahexacos-1-yl octadecanoate; Octadecanoic acid, 17-hydroxy-3,6,9,12,15-pentaoxaheptadec-1-yl ester; 41-Hydroxy-3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24,-27,30,33,36,39-tridecaoxahentetr- acont-1-yl octadecanoate; Octadecanoic acid, 41-hydroxy-3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24,27,30,33,36,39-tridecaoxahentetra- cont-1-yl ester; PEG 100; Alkamuls EGMS/C; PEG100 stearate; Pegosperse 50 MS.; Polietilen Glikol 100 stearat (Glikol stearat; polioksietilen 100 stearat; Polyoxyethylene (100) stearate; Glycol stearate; 2-Hydroxyethyl stearate; 2-Hydroxyethyl octadecanoate; Ethylene glycol monostearate; Cremophor A; Polyethylene glycol monostearate; Cerasynt M; Clearate G; Cerasynt MN; Cithrol PS; Polyoxyl 100 stearate; Lactine; Polystate; Cithrol 10MS; Myrj; Cerasynt 660; Polystate B; Prodhybase P; Akyporox S 100; PEG stearate; Lamacit CAİ Soromin-SG; Emerest 26100; Stearoks 6; Stearoxa-6; Nikkol MYS; Stearox 6; Pegosperse S 9; Emanon 3113; Glycol monostearate; Myrj 45; Stenol 8; Arosurf 1855E100; Emcol H 35-A; PEG-8 Stearate; Monthybase; Monthyle; Parastarin; PEG-100 stearate; Ivorit; OCTADECANOIC ACID, 2-HYDROXYETHYL ESTER; Prodhybase 10000; Sedetol; Stearoks 920; Nikkol MYS 4; Nonion S 2; Nonion S 4; Tego-stearate; Stearox 920; Lipal 15S; Prodhybase ethyl; Lipo-Peg 4-S; Nikkol MYS 100; Nikkol MYS 45; Nikkol MYS-25; Nonex 28;Nonex 29; Nonex 36; Nonex 53; Nonex 54; Nonex 63; PEG-150 stearate; Prodhybas N; Trydet SA 100; Empilan CP-100; Empilan CQ-100; Nonion S 15; Polyoxyl 50 stearate; Clindrol SEG; Myrj 52S Ethofat 60/15; Perphinol 45/100; Trydet SA series; Ethoxylated stearic acid; Lipal 1000-S; Polyoxyethylene-8-monostearate; Polyethylene oxide monostearate; Ionet MS-1000; Lipo EGMS; Slovasol MKS 16; Emery 1539; Poly(oxyethylene) stearate; Polyoxyethylene(8)stearate; Emulphor VT-650; Polyethylene glycol stearate;Polyoxyethylene 50 stearate; Carbowax 1000 monostearate; Carbowax 10000 monostearate; PEG 100MS, Ethylene glycol stearate; Stabilisant delta-118; Poly(oxyethylene) stearic acid ester; Tegin G; Polyethylene oxide stearate; Polyoxyethylene monostearate; Macrogol stearate 200; Polyoxyethylate (9) stearic acid; Glycol stearate SE; Glycol monostearate SE; Stearic acid, monoester with ethylene glycol; Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxooctadecyl)-.omega.-hydroxy; 17-Hydroxy-3,6,9,12,15-pentaoxaheptadec-1-yl octadecanoate; alpha-(1-Oxooctadecyl)-omega-hydroxypoly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl);Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-1-(oxooctadecyl)-omega-hydroxy; Polyoxyl 8 stearate; PEG100 stearate; Polietilen Glikol 100 stearat (Glikol stearat; polioksietilen 100 stearat; Polyoxyethylene (100) stearate; Glycol stearate; 2-Hydroxyethyl stearate; 2-Hydroxyethyl octadecanoate; Ethylene glycol monostearate; Cremophor A; Polyethylene glycol monostearate; Cerasynt M; Clearate G; Cerasynt MN; Cithrol PS; Polyoxyl 100 stearate; Lactine; Polystate; Cithrol 10MS; Myrj; Cerasynt 660; Polystate B; Prodhybase P; Akyporox S 100

PEG 100 Stearate

PEG 100 Stearate is a polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid. PEG 100 Stearate functions as an effective emollient, emulsifier and surfactant. PEG 100 Stearate is used in facial cleansers, creams and lotions, shampoos.
PEG 100 STEARATE is classified as :
Surfactant
CAS Number: 9004-99-3
COSING REF No: 77453
Chem/IUPAC Name: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxooctadecyl)-.omega.-hydroxy- (100 mol EO average molar ratio)

What Is It?
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Stearates (PEG-2 Stearate, PEG-6 Stearate, PEG-8 Stearate, PEG-12 Stearate, PEG-20 Stearate, PEG-32 Stearate, PEG-40 Stearate, PEG-50 Stearate, PEG 100 Stearate, PEG-150 Stearate) are esters of polyethylene glycol and stearic acid. The PEG Stearates are soft to waxy solids that are white to tan in color. In cosmetics and personal care products, PEG Stearates are used in skin creams, conditioners, shampoos, body cleansers and soapless detergents.

Why is it used in cosmetics and personal care products?
The PEG 100 Stearates clean the skin and hair by helping water to mix with oil and dirt so that they can be rinsed away.

Scientific Facts: 
The PEG 100 Stearates are produced from stearic acid, a naturally occurring fatty acid. The numerical value of each PEG Stearate corresponds to the average number of ethylene oxide monomers in the polyethylene chain. Polyethylene glycol ingredients may also be named with a number that indicates molecular weight, for example polyethylene glycol (400) stearate is another name for PEG-8 Stearate.

Why is PEG 100 Stearate in My Skincare Product?
PEG or polyethylene glycol stearate is an ingredient that is used in skincare and body care products. PEG 100 stearate is a soft waxy substance used in moisturizers, conditioners, shampoos, cleansers, and soap-free detergents. The 100 in PEG 100 stearate refers to the number of ethylene oxide monomers present on the molecule. PEG 100 stearate is mainly utilized in your skincare products due to its emulsifying abilities. Emulsifiers help to mix oil and water-based ingredients so that they produce a smooth, stable texture. This emulsifying characteristic of PEG 100 stearate also helps to lift oil and dirt from the skin so that it can be rinsed away, making it a staple addition to cleansers and body washes. 

PEG 100 stearate is a PEG; PEGs are a class of ingredients that have been involved in controversy over their use, particularly from the clean or green beauty industry. This controversy is in part due to claims that it is linked to toxicity within the body due to the presence of impurities during the manufacturing process. This toxicity claim has been evaluated by both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel, both of these groups are responsible for evaluation and regulation of skincare ingredients in the US. Through their research, they determined PEG compounds safe for their indicated uses in skincare and personal care products. In 2002 the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel reviewed newly available data and reaffirmed the approval. However, if you are concerned, discuss PEG 100 Stearate with a doctor or dermatologist, who can advise you whether your medical history may place you at risk with this ingredient. 

THE GOOD:PEG 100 stearate is used as an emollient and a moisturizer
THE NOT SO GOOD:
WHO IS IT FOR?All skin types except those that have an identified allergy to it.
SYNERGETIC INGREDIENTS:Works well with most ingredients
KEEP AN EYE ON:Due to kidney issues associated with the use of PEG 100 stearate products on burn patients, it is recommended to not use PEG 100 stearate containing products on broken skin.

Is PEG 100 Stearate Safe?
Toxicity
The safety of PEG compounds has been called into question in recent years. The questioning of the safety of this ingredient is due to toxicity concerns that result from impurities found in PEG compounds. The impurities of concern are ethylene oxide and 1,4 dioxane, both are by-products of the manufacturing process. Both 1,4 dioxane and ethylene oxide have been suggested to be linked with breast and uterine cancers. While these impurities may have been a concern previously, ingredient manufacturers and improved processes have eliminated the risk of impurities in the final product. The level of impurities that were found initially in PEG manufacturing was low in comparison to the levels proposed to be linked to cancers. Longitudinal studies or studies over a long period of use of PEG compounds have not found any significant toxicity or any significant impact on reproductive health. When applied topically, PEG 100 Stearate is not believed to pose significant dangers to human health. It doesn’t penetrate deeply into the skin and isn’t thought to have bioaccumulation concerns when used topically. 

Irritation
Through research, PEG compounds have exhibited evidence that they are non-irritating ingredients to the eyes or the skin. This research used highly concentrated forms of the ingredient, concentrations that would not be found in your skincare products. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel found PEG compounds to be non-photosensitizing and non-irritating at concentrations up to 100%. However, despite the evidence suggesting that PEG compounds are non-irritating, some research has indicated that irritation can occur when the skin is broken or already irritated. In a study that was trialing the use of PEG containing antimicrobial cream on burn patients, some patients experienced kidney toxicity. The concentration of PEG compounds was identified to be the culprit. Given that there was no evidence of toxicity in any study of PEGs and intact skin, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel amended their safety guidelines to exclude the use of PEG containing products on broken or damaged skin. 

Is PEG 100 Stearate Vegan?
Depending on the source of the stearic acid used to make PEG 100 stearate, it may be vegan. Most of the time, stearic acid is derived from plants. However, it can also be derived from animal origin. If it is of animal origin, the product has to comply with animal by-product regulation. Check with the brand you are thinking of using to determine whether their PEG 100 stearate is derived from a plant or animal source. 

Why Is PEG 100 Stearate Used?
Emulsifier
PEG 100 Stearate is included in skincare and beauty products for a variety of reasons, ranging from making the skin softer to helping product formulations better keep their original consistency.
As an emollient, PEG 100 stearate is included within skincare product formulations to give the skin a softer feel. It achieves this through strengthening the skin’s moisture barrier by forming a thin fatty layer on the skin’s surface, which prevents moisture loss and increases overall hydration. This moisturizing effect increases the hydration of skin cells, which in turn makes the skin softer and boosts skin health.

Texture
Another use for PEG 100 stearate has to do with its emulsification properties. Emulsifiers are valued in the skincare and personal care industries because of their ability to mix water and oils. Without this ability, the oils in many formulations would begin to separate from the water molecules, thus undermining product texture and consistency. PEG 100 stearate is also used to help to cleanse through mixing oil and dirt so that it can be rinsed away.

Surfactant
Lastly, PEG 100 stearate can also act as a surfactant, when used in body and facial cleansers. Surfactants disrupt surface tension, helping to mix water and oil. This characteristic helps the ingredient cleanse the skin by mixing oil with water, lifting dirt trapped inside the skin’s oils, and rinsing it away from the skin.

What Types of Products Contain PEG 100 Stearate?
There are many products in the skin and personal care industry that are formulated with PEG 100 stearate because of its benefits to formulations and its relative safety. Facial cleansers, shampoos, lotions, and face creams have all been known to contain this ingredient. If you’ve had problems with this ingredient before, or if your doctor has advised you to stay away from PEG 100 stearate, it’s vital to read ingredient labels for any personal care product as it has many applications.

What are PEGs?
You have probably noticed that many of cosmetics and personal care products you use have different types of PEGs among ingredients. PEG, which is the abbreviation of polyethylene glycol, is not a definitive chemical entity in itself, but rather a mixture of compounds, of polymers that have been bonded together. Polyethylene is the most common form of plastic, and when combined with glycol, it becomes a thick and sticky liquid.
PEGs are almost often followed by a number, for example PEG-6, PEG-8, PEG 100 and so on. This number represents the approximate molecular weight of that compound. Typically, cosmetics use PEGs with smaller molecular weights. The lower the molecular weight, the easier it is for the compound to penetrate the skin. Often, PEGs are connected to another molecule. You might see, for example, PEG 100 stearate as an ingredient. This means that the polyethylene glycol polymer with an approximate molecular weight of 100 is attached chemically to stearic acid.
In cosmetics, PEGs function in three ways: as emollients (which help soften and lubricate the skin), as emulsifiers (which help water-based and oil-based ingredients mix properly), and as vehicles that help deliver other ingredients deeper into the skin.

What effect do PEG 100 Stearate have on your skin?
Polyethylene glycol compounds have not received a lot of attention from consumer groups but they should. The most important thing to know about PEGs is that they have a penetration enhancing effect, the magnitude of which is dependent upon a variety of variables. These include: both the structure and molecular weight of the PEG, other chemical constituents in the formula, and, most importantly, the overall health of the skin.
PEGs of all sizes may penetrate through injured skin with compromised barrier function. So it is very important to avoid products with PEGs if your skin is not in best condition. Skin penetration enhancing effects have been shown with PEG-2 and PEG-9 stearate.
This penetration enhancing effect is important for three reasons: 1) If your skin care product contains a bunch of other undesirable ingredients, PEGs will make it easier for them to get down deep into your skin. 2) By altering the surface tension of the skin, PEGs may upset the natural moisture balance. 3) PEG 100 Stearate are not always pure, but often come contaminated with a host of toxic impurities.

Impurities and other PEG 100 Stearate risks
According to a report in the International Journal of Toxicology by the cosmetic industry’s own Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) committee, impurities found in various PEG compounds include ethylene oxide; 1,4-dioxane; polycyclic aromatic compounds; and heavy metals such as lead, iron, cobalt, nickel, cadmium, and arsenic. Many of these impurities are linked to cancer.
PEG compounds often contain small amounts of ethylene oxide. Ethylene oxide (found in PEG-4, PEG-7, PEG4-dilaurate, and PEG 100) is highly toxic — even in small doses — and was used in World War I nerve gas. Exposure to ethylene glycol during its production, processing and clinical use has been linked to increased incidents of leukemia as well as several types of cancer.
Finally, there is 1,4-dioxane (found in PEG-6, PEG-8, PEG-32, PEG-75, PEG-150, PEG-14M, and PEG-20M), which, on top of being a known carcinogen, may also combine with atmospheric oxygen to form explosive peroxides — not exactly something you want going on your skin.
Even though responsible manufacturers do make efforts to remove these impurities (1,4-dioxane that can be removed from cosmetics through vacuum stripping during processing without an unreasonable increase in raw material cost), the cosmetic and personal care product industry has shown little interest in doing so. Surprisingly, PEG compounds are also used by natural cosmetics companies.

If you find PEG 100 Stearate in your cosmetics…
Although you might find conflicting information online regarding Polyethylene Glycol, PEGs family and their chemical relatives, it is something to pay attention to when choosing cosmetic and personal care products.
If you have sensitive or damaged skin it might be a good idea to avoid products containing PEGs. Using CosmEthics app you can easy add PEGs to personal alerts.
In our last blog post we wrote about vegan ingredients. Natural glycols are a good alternative to PEGs, for example natural vegetable glycerin can be used as both moisturiser and emulsifier. CosmEthics vegan list can help you find products that use vegetable glycerin as wetting agent.
At present, there is not enough information shown on product labels to enable you to determine whether PEG compounds are contaminated. But if you must buy a product containing PEGs just make sure that your PEGs are coming from a respected brand.

Glyceryl stearate and PEG 100 stearate is a combination of two emulsifying ingredients. The stabilising effect of both means that the product remains blended and will not separate.
Description
Glyceryl stearate is a solid and waxy compound. It is made by reacting glycerine (a soap by-product) with stearic acid (a naturally occurring, vegetable fatty acid). PEG 100 stearate is an off-white, solid ester of polyethylene glycol (a binder and a softener) and stearic acid.

The surfactant qualities of glyceryl stearate and PEG 100 stearate allow oil and water to mix. Creams and lotions are water and oil droplets held together by materials called emulsifiers, without them oil droplets would float on top of the water.
When used in a moisturiser, this forms a protective barrier on the surface of skin, greatly assisting moisture retention.
Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG 100 Stearate is a very versatile non-ionic oil-in-water emulsifier that creates silky smooth, ultra-light emulsions. Most datasheets I’ve seen state the content of each Glyceryl Stearate and PEG 100 Stearate as 48–52%, which averages out to a 50/50 blend, though check the datasheet from your supplier for the particular one you have.
Appearance I’ve only seen it as brittle white flakes, but some manufacturers sell it as a powder or in pellets.
Usage rate 1–25%, depending on the use. SEPPIC lists 5% for a fluid lotion, 10% for lotion, 15% for a thick lotion, 20% for a fluid cream, and 25% for a thick cream.
Texture Brittle, hard; weightless in emulsions.
Scent Nothing noticeable
Absorbency Speed Very light
Approximate Melting Point 50–60°C (122–140°F)
pH 5.5–7 (3 % solution); tolerates a final pH range of approximately 4–9.
Charge Non-ionic
Solubility Oil
Why do we use it in formulations? 
Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG 100 Stearate is a very effective and crazy versatile emulsifier. It can be used to create everything from sprayable milks to ultra-thick emulsified body butters, and everything in between!
Unlike emulsifying waxes like Polawax, Emulsifying Wax NF, Olivem 1000, and Ritamulse SCG, Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG 100 Stearate does not substantially thicken emulsions, even in emulsions with very large oil phases. It is also substantially more stable in very thin emulsions.

For example, let’s imagine we have four different emulsions; 2 emulsified with Polawax, and 2 emulsified with Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG 100 Stearate. One of each emulsifier has a 15% oil phase, and the other two have a 30% oil phase—the only ingredients in the oil phase are a liquid oil and the emulsifier. There are no added thickeners, like gums or fatty alcohols (cetyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, etc.)
The Polawax emulsions will have drastically different viscosities. The 15% one will be fairly thin, but still lotion-y. It would work well in a pump-top bottle, or possibly even a bottle with a treatment pump cap. The 30% one will be more like a cream; thick and rich, and much better suited to a jar or tub.

The Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG 100 Stearate emulsions will have very similar viscosities. The 15% one will be about the consistency of partly skimmed milk, while the 30% one will be more like cream. The 30% one is more viscous because the inner phase (the oil phase) is larger, but that viscosity difference is pretty small—especially when compared to differing phase sizes in an emulsion made with Polawax. Both Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG 100 Stearate emulsions could be packaged in a spray bottle, and are far too thin for any sort of pump bottle or jar.

Because Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG 100 Stearate does not thicken emulsions, it gives us the ability to control the viscosity and oil phase size independently. For instance, you can create an emulsion with a 50% oil phase and decide if you want it to be a thinner, pumpable lotion or a thick, solid cream. You can also choose what you want to thicken it with, allowing you significantly more control over the skin feel of the finished product. With an emulsifying wax like Polawax, that product could only be solid, and the skin feel will be harder to adjust given the unavoidable presence of the thickeners in Polawax.

Additionally, because Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG 100 Stearate doesn’t add viscosity to our emulsions, it has the ability to create far lighter feeling emulsions—in that way, it’s almost ‘invisible’ in your formulations. If you want to add the fluffy creaminess and weight of cetearyl alcohol, you’ll have to add it yourself—if you used Emulsifying Wax NF instead, that already contains 65–80% cetearyl alcohol, so you can’t avoid it.

Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG 100 Stearate also works at lower rates than more common emulsifying waxes. Compared to Emulsifying Wax NF, Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG 100 Stearate contains a higher percentage of the emulsifying ingredient. Emulsifying Wax NF contains 20–35% Polysorbate 60, while Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG 100 Stearate contains approximately 50% PEG 100 Stearate. I’ve seen (and successfully used) Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG 100 Stearate at 9–17% of the oil phase, compared to 20–25% for emulsifying waxes like Polawax, Emulsifying Wax NF, Olivem 1000, and Ritamulse SCG.

Do you need it? I highly recommend it if you love making lotions—it gives you far more control over your emulsions than emulsifying waxes like Polawax and Ritamulse SCG.
Refined or unrefined? Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG 100 Stearate only exists as a refined product.
Strengths It’s extremely versatile, allowing you to independently adjust the viscosity and oil phase size of your formulations. It easily creates stable emulsions at low usage rates and works brilliantly over a wide variety of oil phase sizes. It’s lightweight, inexpensive, and very effective.
Weaknesses It isn’t considered natural; that doesn’t bother me as it is a perfectly safe ingredient, but I can’t offer a suitable naturally-accepted alternative at this time.
Alternatives & Substitutions Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG 100 Stearate is a tricky ingredient to substitute out. Generally speaking, you’ll need another complete emulsifying wax (something like Emulsifying Wax NF or Olivem 1000), but those complete emulsifying waxes contribute significantly more thickening to finished products, meaning formulations designed to work with Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG 100 Stearate will likely be significantly more viscous if you use a thickening emulsifying wax in its place. Depending on the formulation you may be able to adequately compensate by removing any additional fatty thickeners, but this will take some experimenting to get right.
If the formulation is for an ultra-light body milk or a very thick emulsified body butter type project, it will be difficult to substitute the emulsifier. You will likely be in re-formulation territory, or you will need to accept a more viscous and/or waxier/heavier end product.

How to Work with It Include Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG 100 Stearate in your heated oil phase.
Storage & Shelf Life Stored somewhere cool, dark, and dry, Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG 100 Stearate should last at least two years.
Tips, Tricks, and Quirks Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG 100 Stearate is different from Glyceryl Stearate SE, though both are emulsifiers.
The Body Shop uses Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG 100 Stearate to emulsify their signature body butters!

Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Stearates (PEG-2 Stearate, PEG-6 Stearate, PEG-8 Stearate, PEG-12 Stearate, PEG-20 Stearate, PEG-32 Stearate, PEG-40 Stearate, PEG-50 Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-150 Stearate) are esters of polyethylene glycol and stearic acid. The PEG Stearates are soft to waxy solids that are white to tan in color. In cosmetics and personal care products, PEG Stearates are used in skin creams, conditioners, shampoos, body cleansers and soapless detergents.
PEG 100 Stearate is used in cosmetics and beauty products primarily as a surfactant and cleansing agent, because PEG Stearates' ability to clean the skin and hair by helping water to mix with oil and dirt so that they can be rinsed away, according to. However, it is also seen as an emollient, because of secondary properties.
* A surfactant and cleansing agent
* Please read TIA’s article on What Is PEG 100 Stearate : PEGs

Functions of PEG 100 Stearate :
PEG 100 Stearate is used in cosmetics and beauty products primarily as a surfactant and cleansing agent, because PEG Stearates' ability to clean the skin and hair by helping water to mix with oil and dirt so that they can be rinsed away, according to CosmeticsInfo.org. However, it is also seen as an emollient, because of secondary properties.
Unlike typical PEGs, (whose identifying number corresponds to their molecular weight) the numerical value of each PEG Stearate corresponds to the average number of ethylene oxide monomers in the polyethylene chain (from 2 - 150).

Despite the many fears regarding PEGs, they are seen as an ingredient in a large number of products because of their diverse properties. In a study published in the Toxicology journal in 2005, entitled "Safety assessment on polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and their derivatives as used in cosmetic products," it was concluded that: "Taking into consideration all available information from related compounds, as well as the mode and mechanism of action, no safety concern with regard to these endpoints could be identified. Based on the available data it is therefore concluded that PEGs of a wide molecular weight range (200 to over 10,000), their ethers (laureths. ceteths, ceteareths, steareths, and oleths), and fatty acid esters (laurates, dilaurates, stearates, distearates) are safe for use in cosmetics."

PEG 100 Stearate is not considered to be an irritant or sensitizer (it gave only minimal irritation in studies up to 100%), and are CIR and FDA approved for use, but not on broken skin (Source).
Safety Measures/Side Effects of PEG 100 Stearate:
However. The Cosmetics Database found PEG 40 Stearate to be a moderate to high hazard ingredient depending on usage. The EWG issues warnings regarding: cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity, contamination concerns, irritation, and organ system toxicity.
According to a study published in the International Journal of Toxicology, PEGs (including PEG 40 Stearate) can contain harmful impurities, including: Ethylene Oxide, known to increase the incidences of uterine and breast cancers and of leukemia and brain cancer, according to experimental results reported by the National Toxicology Program; 1,4-dioxane, a known carcinogen; PAHs, known to increase the risk of breast cancer; lead; iron; and arsenic (Source).

Products and formulas containing PEG 40 Stearate should not be used on broken or irritated skin. Although PEGs are considered safe for use topically on healthy skin, studies showed that patients suffering from severe burns were treated with PEG-based antimicrobial cream; this treatment resulted in kidney toxicity. "The PEG content of the antimicrobial cream was determined to be the causative agent. However, no evidence of systemic toxicity occurred in studies with intact skin. Because of the observation of kidney effects in burn patients, the CIR Expert Panel qualified their conclusion on the safety of the PEG ingredients to state that cosmetic formulations containing these ingredients should not be used on damaged skin"

SYNONYMS of PEG 100 Stearate Polyoxyl (40) stearate, polyoxyethylene (40) monostearate; INS No. 431
DEFINITION Consists of a mixture of the mono- and diesters of edible commercial stearic
acid and mixed polyoxyethylene diols (having an average polymer length of about 40 oxyethylene units) together with free polyol.
Structural formula Nominal formula and approximate composition: free polyol monoester diester where RCO- is a fatty acid moiety, and "n" has an average value of approximately 40. The distribution of polymers is approximately in accordance with the Poisson expression. Assay Not less than 84.0 and not more than 88.0% of oxyethylene groups equivalent to not less than 97.5 and not more than 102.5% of polyoxyethylene (40) stearate calculated on the anhydrous basis.
DESCRIPTION of PEG 100 Stearate Cream-coloured and exists as flakes or as a waxy solid at 25o with a faint odour
FUNCTIONAL USESEmulsifier of PEG 100 Stearate
CHARACTERISTICS of PEG 100 Stearate
IDENTIFICATION of PEG 100 Stearate
Solubility (Vol. 4) Soluble in water, ethanol, methanol and ethylacetate; insoluble in mineral oil Congealing range (Vol. 4)39 - 44o

Infrared absorption The infrared spectrum of the sample is characteristic of a partial fatty acid ester of a polyoxyethylated polyol Colour reaction To 5 ml of a 5% (w/v) aqueous solution of the sample add 10 ml of ammonium cobaltothiocyanate solution and 5 ml of chloroform, shake well and allow to separate; a blue colour is produced in the chloroform layer. (Ammonium cobaltothiocyanate solution: 37.5 g of cobalt nitrate and 150 g of ammonium thiocyanate made up to 100 ml with water - freshly prepared). Saponification (Vol. 4) 100 g of the sample yields approximately 13-14 g of fatty acids and 85-87 g of polyols
PURITY of PEG 100 Stearate
Water (Vol. 4) Not more than 3% (Karl Fischer Method) 
Acid value (Vol. 4) Not more than 1
Saponification value (Vol. 4)
Not less than 25 and not more than 35
Hydroxyl value (Vol. 4) Not less than 27 and not more than 40
Lead (Vol. 4) Not more than 2 mg/kg
Determine using an atomic absorption technique appropriate to the specified level. The selection of sample size and method of sample preparation may be based on the principles of the method described in Volume 4, “Instrumental Methods.”
METHOD OF ASSAY of PEG 100 Stearate
Determine the content of Oxyethylene groups. 

Polyoxyethylene (100) stearate has been used in a study to assess the phase behaviors of special hot microemulsion to produce drug-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers. [3] It has also been used in a study to investigate its effects on multidrug resistance (MDR).
Polyoxyethylene 100 monostearate, also known as ethylene glycol monostearate or myrj 52, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as fatty acid esters. These are carboxylic ester derivatives of a fatty acid. Polyoxyethylene 40 monostearate is considered to be a practically insoluble (in water) and relatively neutral molecule. Polyoxyethylene 40 monostearate has been primarily detected in urine. Within the cell, polyoxyethylene 40 monostearate is primarily located in the membrane (predicted from logP) and cytoplasm.

A sample work-up method for gas chromatographic profiling of polyethylene glycol related cmpd in pharmaceutical matrixes is described. After a short sample clean-up, carbon-oxygen linkages were partially cleaved with 0.07/M BBr3 in CH2Cl2 at room temp. The reaction was stopped after 1 min by addn of 0.01M hydrochloric acid. The products were trimethylsilylated and injected onto a WCOT 50 m X 0.25 mm CP-SIL 5 CB fused silica column. Eleven model cmpd, representing 4 common types of polyethylene glycol deriv, were evaluated by this method. Characteristic profiles can be obtained from polyethylene glycol deriv carrying different functional groups. Minimum detectable amt are in the range of 200 ug.

Polyoxyl 100 Stearate is used in cosmetics and beauty products primarily as a surfactant and emulsifier. It occurs naturally as a white, waxy or flaky substance, according to The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. CosmeticsInfo.org notes that Polyoxyl 40 Stearate, as part of the PEG Stearate group, are formed from a naturally fatty acid known as Stearic Acid. The PEG Sterates are used in cosmetics and skin care formulas because they can "clean the skin and hair by helping water to mix with oil and dirt so that they can be rinsed away.

Polyethylene glycol (PEG 100 Stearate ; /ˌpɒliˈɛθəlˌiːn ˈɡlaɪˌkɒl, -ˌkɔːl/) is a polyether compound with many applications, from industrial manufacturing to medicine. PEG 100 Stearate is also known as polyethylene oxide (PEO) or polyoxyethylene (POE), depending on its molecular weight. The structure of PEG 100 Stearate is commonly expressed as H−(O−CH2−CH2)n−OH.[3] 

Uses of PEG 100 Stearate 
Medical uses of PEG 100 Stearate 
PEG 100 Stearate is the basis of a number of laxatives.[4] Whole bowel irrigation with polyethylene glycol and added electrolytes is used for bowel preparation before surgery or colonoscopy. 
PEG 100 Stearate is also used as an excipient in many pharmaceutical products. 
When attached to various protein medications, polyethylene glycol allows a slowed clearance of the carried protein from the blood.[5] 
The possibility that PEG 100 Stearate could be used to fuse axons is being explored by researchers studying peripheral nerve and spinal cord injury.[4] 
Chemical uses of PEG 100 Stearate 
The remains of the 16th century carrack Mary Rose undergoing conservation treatment with PEG 100 Stearate in the 1980s 
 
Terra cotta warrior, showing traces of original color 
Because PEG 100 Stearate is a hydrophilic molecule, it has been used to passivate microscope glass slides for avoiding non-specific sticking of proteins in single-molecule fluorescence studies.[6] 
Polyethylene glycol has a low toxicity and is used in a variety of products.[7] The polymer is used as a lubricating coating for various surfaces in aqueous and non-aqueous environments.[8] 
Since PEG 100 Stearate is a flexible, water-soluble polymer, it can be used to create very high osmotic pressures (on the order of tens of atmospheres). It also is unlikely to have specific interactions with biological chemicals. These properties make PEG 100 Stearate one of the most useful molecules for applying osmotic pressure in biochemistry and biomembranes experiments, in particular when using the osmotic stress technique. 
Polyethylene glycol is also commonly used as a polar stationary phase for gas chromatography, as well as a heat transfer fluid in electronic testers. 
PEG 100 Stearate has also been used to preserve objects that have been salvaged from underwater, as was the case with the warship Vasa in Stockholm,[9] and similar cases. It replaces water in wooden objects, making the wood dimensionally stable and preventing warping or shrinking of the wood when it dries.[4] In addition, PEG 100 Stearate is used when working with green wood as a stabilizer, and to prevent shrinkage.[10] 
PEG 100 Stearate has been used to preserve the painted colors on Terracotta Warriors unearthed at a UNESCO World Heritage site in China.[11] These painted artifacts were created during the Qin Shi Huang (first emperor of China) era. Within 15 seconds of the terra-cotta pieces being unearthed during excavations, the lacquer beneath the paint begins to curl after being exposed to the dry Xi'an air. The paint would subsequently flake off in about four minutes. The German Bavarian State Conservation Office developed a PEG 100 Stearate preservative that when immediately applied to unearthed artifacts has aided in preserving the colors painted on the pieces of clay soldiers.[12] 
PEG 100 Stearate is often used (as an internal calibration compound) in mass spectrometry experiments, with its characteristic fragmentation pattern allowing accurate and reproducible tuning. 
PEG 100 Stearate derivatives, such as narrow range ethoxylates, are used as surfactants. 
PEG 100 Stearate has been used as the hydrophilic block of amphiphilic block copolymers used to create some polymersomes.[13] 
PEG 100 Stearate has also been used as a propellent on the UGM-133M Trident II Missile, in service with the United States Air Force.[14] 

Biological uses 
PEG 100 Stearate is commonly used as a crowding agent in in vitro assays to mimic highly crowded cellular conditions.[6] 
PEG 100 Stearate is commonly used as a precipitant for plasmid DNA isolation and protein crystallization. X-ray diffraction of protein crystals can reveal the atomic structure of the proteins. 
PEG 100 Stearate is used to fuse two different types of cells, most often B-cells and myelomas in order to create hybridomas. César Milstein and Georges J. F. Köhler originated this technique, which they used for antibody production, winning a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1984.[4] 
Polymer segments derived from PEG 100 Stearate polyols impart flexibility to polyurethanes for applications such as elastomeric fibers (spandex) and foam cushions. 
In microbiology, PEG 100 Stearate precipitation is used to concentrate viruses. PEG 100 Stearate is also used to induce complete fusion (mixing of both inner and outer leaflets) in liposomes reconstituted in vitro. 
Gene therapy vectors (such as viruses) can be PEG 100 Stearate -coated to shield them from inactivation by the immune system and to de-target them from organs where they may build up and have a toxic effect.[15] The size of the PEG 100 Stearate polymer has been shown to be important, with larger polymers achieving the best immune protection. 
PEG 100 Stearate is a component of stable nucleic acid lipid particles (SNALPs) used to package siRNA for use in vivo.[16][17] 
In blood banking, PEG 100 Stearate is used as a potentiator to enhance detection of antigens and antibodies.[4][18] 
When working with phenol in a laboratory situation, PEG 100 Stearate 300 can be used on phenol skin burns to deactivate any residual phenol (some references are required). 
In biophysics, polyethylene glycols are the molecules of choice for the functioning ion channels diameter studies, because in aqueous solutions they have a spherical shape and can block ion channel conductance.[19][20] 

Commercial uses of PEG 100 Stearate 
PEG 100 Stearate is the basis of many skin creams (as cetomacrogol) and personal lubricants (frequently combined with glycerin). 
PEG 100 Stearate is used in a number of toothpastes[4] as a dispersant. In this application, it binds water and helps keep xanthan gum uniformly distributed throughout the toothpaste. 
PEG 100 Stearate is also under investigation for use in body armor, and in tattoos to monitor diabetes.[21][22] 
In low-molecular-weight formulations (e.g. PEG 100 Stearate 400), it is used in Hewlett-Packard designjet printers as an ink solvent and lubricant for the print heads. 

PEG 100 Stearate is also used as an anti-foaming agent in food and drinks[23] – its INS number is 1521[24] or E1521 in the EU.[25] 
Industrial uses of PEG 100 Stearate 
A nitrate ester-plasticized polyethylene glycol (NEPE-75) is used in Trident II submarine-launched ballistic missile solid rocket fuel.[26] 
Dimethyl ethers of PEG 100 Stearate are the key ingredient of Selexol, a solvent used by coal-burning, integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plants to remove carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide from the gas waste stream. 
PEG 100 Stearate has been used as the gate insulator in an electric double-layer transistor to induce superconductivity in an insulator.[27] 
PEG 100 Stearate is also used as a polymer host for solid polymer electrolytes. Although not yet in commercial production, many groups around the globe are engaged in research on solid polymer electrolytes involving PEG 100 Stearate , with the aim of improving their properties, and in permitting their use in batteries, electro-chromic display systems, and other products in the future. 
PEG 100 Stearate is injected into industrial processes to reduce foaming in separation equipment. 
PEG 100 Stearate is used as a binder in the preparation of technical ceramics.[28] 
Recreational uses of PEG 100 Stearate 
PEG 100 Stearate is used to extend the size and durability of very large soap bubbles. 
PEG 100 Stearate is the main ingredient in many personal lubricants.
Health effects of PEG 100 Stearate 
PEG 100 Stearate is considered biologically inert and safe by the FDA. However, a growing body of evidence shows the existence of anti PEG 100 Stearate antibodies in approximately 72% of the population based on plasma samples from 1990–1999.[medical citation needed] The FDA has been asked to investigate the possible effects of PEG 100 Stearate in laxatives for children.[29] 

Due to its ubiquity in a multitude of products and the large percentage of the population with antibodies to PEG 100 Stearate , hypersensitive reactions to PEG 100 Stearate are an increasing concern.[medical citation needed] Allergy to PEG 100 Stearate is usually discovered after a person has been diagnosed with an allergy to an increasing number of seemingly unrelated products, including processed foods, cosmetics, drugs, and other substances that contain PEG 100 Stearate or were manufactured with PEG 100 Stearate .[30] 

When PEG 100 Stearate is chemically attached to therapeutic molecules (such as protein drugs or nanoparticles), it can sometimes be antigenic, stimulating an anti-PEG 100 Stearate antibody response in some patients. This effect has only been shown for a few of the many available PEG 100 Stearate ylated therapeutics, but it has significant effects on clinical outcomes of affected patients.[31] Other than these few instances where patients have anti-PEG 100 Stearate immune responses, it is generally considered to be a safe component of drug formulations. 

Available forms and nomenclature of PEG 100 Stearate 
PEG 100 Stearate , PEO, and POE refer to an oligomer or polymer of ethylene oxide. The three names are chemically synonymous, but historically PEG 100 Stearate is preferred in the biomedical field, whereas PEO is more prevalent in the field of polymer chemistry. Because different applications require different polymer chain lengths, PEG 100 Stearate has tended to refer to oligomers and polymers with a molecular mass below 20,000 g/mol, PEO to polymers with a molecular mass above 20,000 g/mol, and POE to a polymer of any molecular mass.[32] PEG 100 Stearate s are prepared by polymerization of ethylene oxide and are commercially available over a wide range of molecular weights from 300 g/mol to 10,000,000 g/mol.[33] 

PEG 100 Stearate and PEO are liquids or low-melting solids, depending on their molecular weights. While PEG 100 Stearate and PEO with different molecular weights find use in different applications, and have different physical properties (e.g. viscosity) due to chain length effects, their chemical properties are nearly identical. Different forms of PEG 100 Stearate are also available, depending on the initiator used for the polymerization process – the most common initiator is a monofunctional methyl ether PEG 100 Stearate , or methoxypoly(ethylene glycol), abbreviated mPEG 100 Stearate . Lower-molecular-weight PEG 100 Stearate s are also available as purer oligomers, referred to as monodisperse, uniform, or discrete. Very high purity PEG 100 Stearate has recently been shown to be crystalline, allowing determination of a crystal structure by x-ray diffraction.[33] Since purification and separation of pure oligomers is difficult, the price for this type of quality is often 10–1000 fold that of polydisperse PEG 100 Stearate . 

PEG 100 Stearate s are also available with different geometries. 
Branched PEG 100 Stearate s have three to ten PEG 100 Stearate chains emanating from a central core group. 
Star PEG 100 Stearate s have 10 to 100 PEG 100 Stearate chains emanating from a central core group. 
Comb PEG 100 Stearate s have multiple PEG 100 Stearate chains normally grafted onto a polymer backbone. 
The numbers that are often included in the names of PEG 100 Stearate s indicate their average molecular weights (e.g. a PEG 100 Stearate with n = 9 would have an average molecular weight of approximately 400 daltons, and would be labeled PEG 100 Stearate 400.) Most PEG 100 Stearate s include molecules with a distribution of molecular weights (i.e. they are polydisperse). The size distribution can be characterized statistically by its weight average molecular weight (Mw) and its number average molecular weight (Mn), the ratio of which is called the polydispersity index (Mw/Mn). Mw and Mn can be measured by mass spectrometry.

PEG 100 Stearate ylation is the act of covalently coupling a PEG 100 Stearate structure to another larger molecule, for example, a therapeutic protein, which is then referred to as a PEG 100 Stearate ylated protein. PEG 100 Stearate ylated interferon alfa-2a or −2b are commonly used injectable treatments for hepatitis C infection. 
PEG 100 Stearate is soluble in water, methanol, ethanol, acetonitrile, benzene, and dichloromethane, and is insoluble in diethyl ether and hexane. It is coupled to hydrophobic molecules to produce non-ionic surfactants.[34] 
PEG 100 Stearate s potentially contain toxic impurities, such as ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane.[35] Ethylene Glycol and its ethers are nephrotoxic if applied to damaged skin.[36] 

Polyethylene oxide (PEO, Mw 4 kDa) nanometric crystallites (4 nm) 
Polyethylene glycol (PEG 100 Stearate ) and related polymers (PEG 100 Stearate phospholipid constructs) are often sonicated when used in biomedical applications. However, as reported by Murali et al., PEG 100 Stearate is very sensitive to sonolytic degradation and PEG 100 Stearate degradation products can be toxic to mammalian cells. It is, thus, imperative to assess potential PEG 100 Stearate degradation to ensure that the final material does not contain undocumented contaminants that can introduce artifacts into experimental results.[37] 

PEG 100 Stearate s and methoxypolyethylene glycols are manufactured by Dow Chemical under the tradename Carbowax for industrial use, and Carbowax Sentry for food and pharmaceutical use. They vary in consistency from liquid to solid, depending on the molecular weight, as indicated by a number following the name. They are used commercially in numerous applications, including as surfactants, in foods, in cosmetics, in pharmaceutics, in biomedicine, as dispersing agents, as solvents, in ointments, in suppository bases, as tablet excipients, and as laxatives. Some specific groups are lauromacrogols, nonoxynols, octoxynols, and poloxamers. 
Macrogol, used as a laxative, is a form of polyethylene glycol. The name may be followed by a number which represents the average molecular weight (e.g. macrogol 3350, macrogol 4000 or macrogol 6000). 

Production of PEG 100 Stearate
The production of polyethylene glycol was first reported in 1859. Both independently isolated products that were polyethylene glycols.[38] Polyethylene glycol is produced by the interaction of ethylene oxide with water, ethylene glycol, or ethylene glycol oligomers.[39] The reaction is catalyzed by acidic or basic catalysts. Ethylene glycol and its oligomers are preferable as a starting material instead of water, because they allow the creation of polymers with a low polydispersity (narrow molecular weight distribution). Polymer chain length depends on the ratio of reactants. 
HOCH2CH2OH + n(CH2CH2O) → HO(CH2CH2O)n+1H 
Depending on the catalyst type, the mechanism of polymerization can be cationic or anionic. The anionic mechanism is preferable because it allows one to obtain PEG 100 Stearate with a low polydispersity. Polymerization of ethylene oxide is an exothermic process. Overheating or contaminating ethylene oxide with catalysts such as alkalis or metal oxides can lead to runaway polymerization, which can end in an explosion after a few hours. 

Polyethylene oxide, or high-molecular weight polyethylene glycol, is synthesized by suspension polymerization. It is necessary to hold the growing polymer chain in solution in the course of the polycondensation process. The reaction is catalyzed by magnesium-, aluminium-, or calcium-organoelement compounds. To prevent coagulation of polymer chains from solution, chelating additives such as dimethylglyoxime are used. 
Alkaline catalysts such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH), potassium hydroxide (KOH), or sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) are used to prepare low-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol.