PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifier / solubilizer · INCI: PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Reviewed by Elysiana Aguilar, master esthetician
How we read it
Not a pore-clogger. Considered safe for acne-prone skin.
Is PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil comedogenic?
No. PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil isn't considered pore-clogging, and we read it as safe to use on acne-prone skin. That doesn't make it right for everyone, but congestion isn't the thing to watch for with it.
Why we read it this way
PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil is castor oil that has been hardened, then given enough water-loving chains to dissolve in water. It is a solubilizer, keeping fragrance and essential oils clear in a watery formula instead of floating on top. We read it as not pore-clogging.
The nuance
Plain hydrogenated castor oil is a hard wax that we do flag, and the two are easy to confuse on a label. Some lists flag this one as well. The PEG-40 version dissolves in water, which is why we read it differently.
Where it shows up
Toners, facial mists, essences and sheet masks rely on it to stay clear, and it appears in hair and body sprays for the same reason.
Related ingredients
One ingredient rarely tells the whole story. The acne ingredient checker reads everything in a product at once, and there is more on what comedogenic means. Also in the guides: What causes acne.