What Is Peg-100 Lanolin?
Peg-100 Lanolin is a modified form of natural lanolin, the waxy substance obtained from sheep’s wool during the washing process. Chemists react raw lanolin with about one hundred units of ethylene oxide, a step that makes the wax more water friendly and easier to blend into modern skin care formulas. This ethoxylation process was refined in the mid 1900s, giving formulators a reliable way to turn thick lanolin into a smooth ingredient that works in both water and oil based products.
Because of its balanced oil and water loving character, Peg-100 Lanolin shows up in a wide range of cosmetics. You will most often see it in facial cleansers, moisturizers, lotions, makeup removers, rich night creams, lip balms, hand creams and even some rinse off masks. Its softness, mild nature and ability to mix stubborn oils with water have kept it popular for decades.
Peg-100 Lanolin’s Cosmetic Benefits/Uses
This ingredient pulls its weight in formulas by doing the following
- Cleansing: Its amphiphilic structure grabs hold of dirt, excess oil and makeup then lifts them away when the product is rinsed, leaving skin feeling fresh without a tight after feel.
- Emulsifying: Peg-100 Lanolin helps water and oil stay evenly blended, so creams and lotions stay smooth, stable and pleasant to apply across their shelf life.
Who Can Use Peg-100 Lanolin
Thanks to its balanced oil and water affinity, Peg-100 Lanolin is generally well suited for most skin types. Dry, normal and mature skin often enjoy its softening feel while combination skin can benefit from its light cleansing action. Oily or acne-prone users may also tolerate it though some prefer to avoid any lanolin-based ingredient if they feel it weighs on the skin.
Because Peg-100 Lanolin comes from sheep wool it is not considered vegan. Vegetarians who are comfortable with animal-derived but cruelty-free ingredients may still choose to use it but strict vegans will want to look for plant-based alternatives.
Current research shows no known issues for pregnant or breastfeeding women when this ingredient is applied topically in normal cosmetic amounts. Still this text is not medical advice so anyone who is expecting or nursing should run any skin care product past a qualified health professional to be safe.
Peg-100 Lanolin does not make skin more sensitive to the sun and there is no evidence it interferes with common actives like retinol or vitamin C. It is also fully soluble in water so it rinses clean in wash-off products which helps reduce residue-related discomfort.
Potential Side Effects/Adverse Reactions
Reactions to topical Peg-100 Lanolin are personal and uncommon. The points below list potential effects that could appear even though most users will never experience them when the ingredient is used correctly by the manufacturer.
- Contact allergy – individuals already sensitive to wool alcohols may notice redness itching or a mild rash
- Eye irritation – if a cleanser containing the ingredient gets into the eyes it can cause temporary stinging
- Follicular clogging – in very oily or acne-prone skin the waxy part of lanolin could contribute to blocked pores for some people
- Mild dryness – rare but can occur if the cleansing action is too strong for delicate skin barriers
If any unwanted reaction shows up discontinue use and seek medical help if irritation persists or worsens.
Comedogenic Rating
Rating: 2/5
Ethoxylation makes the original lanolin wax more water friendly so it sits lighter on skin, yet its oily backbone can still leave a faint film that may trap debris in very reactive pores. This places it on the lower-middle end of the scale compared with raw lanolin or rich plant butters.
Most people prone to acne will tolerate Peg-100 Lanolin especially in wash-off or low-percentage leave-on products, but those with highly congested skin might prefer alternatives.
Real-world comedogenicity also depends on how much is in the formula and what other occlusive agents accompany it, so the finished product matters more than the single ingredient.
Summary
Peg-100 Lanolin cleanses by surrounding dirt and oil then lifting them away with water, and it emulsifies by locking water and oil phases together for a stable smooth texture.
It has held a steady spot in moisturizers face washes and lip balms for decades, though greener options have nudged it aside in some vegan lines.
Overall it is considered safe for topical use with low rates of irritation or pore clogging, yet skin is personal so patch testing a new product that contains it is always the wise move.