What Is Peg-12 Tallate?
Peg-12 Tallate is an ingredient made by linking fatty acids from tall oil to about twelve units of ethylene oxide. Tall oil is a natural by product of the wood pulping process, mainly from pine trees, so the starting material comes from a renewable plant source. The addition of the polyethylene glycol (PEG) chain lets the fatty part mix well with water, turning a once waxy substance into one that works smoothly in lotions and creams.
Chemists first explored tall oil in the mid-20th century while looking for ways to use waste from the paper industry. Once they figured out how to attach PEG chains, the new material proved useful for bringing oil and water together in cosmetics. Today manufacturers make Peg-12 Tallate in large reactors where tall oil fatty acids are purified then reacted with ethylene oxide under heat and pressure. The finished ingredient is a pale liquid or soft paste that dissolves easily in water and many oils.
You will most often see Peg-12 Tallate in moisturizers, facial cleansers, masks, sunscreens, leave-on hair conditioners, makeup removers and color cosmetics like liquid foundations. Brands value it for creating smooth, stable formulas that feel light on the skin.
Peg-12 Tallate’s Cosmetic Benefits/Uses
Peg-12 Tallate appears on an ingredient list mainly for one key job: it acts as an emulsifier. By holding oil and water together it keeps creams from separating, makes textures silkier and helps active ingredients spread evenly across the skin or hair. A stable emulsion also means a longer shelf life and a more pleasant application experience for the user.
Who Can Use Peg-12 Tallate
Peg-12 Tallate is considered gentle enough for most skin types including normal, dry, combination and oily skin. Its lightweight texture and low likelihood of clogging pores make it generally suitable even for acne-prone or sensitive complexions, though very reactive skin should still monitor for personal tolerance.
The ingredient is sourced from tall oil, a plant-derived material obtained during wood pulping, and the added ethylene oxide is synthetic. No animal-derived components are involved, so formulations using Peg-12 Tallate are typically appropriate for vegans and vegetarians. As always, check the full product label to be sure the rest of the formula aligns with your preferences.
No specific concerns link Peg-12 Tallate to pregnancy or breastfeeding. Current safety assessments classify it as low risk at the concentrations used in cosmetics. That said this is not medical advice; anyone who is pregnant or nursing should review any skincare product with a qualified healthcare professional before use to be extra cautious.
Peg-12 Tallate does not increase photosensitivity, so it should not make skin more prone to sunburn. Standard sun protection practices still apply when using any daytime product.
Potential Side Effects/Adverse Reactions
Responses to topical Peg-12 Tallate vary from person to person. The points below outline potential, yet uncommon, side effects when the ingredient is used in well-formulated products.
- Skin irritation such as mild redness or stinging in very sensitive individuals
- Allergic contact dermatitis presenting as rash or itching when someone is specifically allergic to PEG derivatives
- Eye irritation if the product accidentally gets into the eyes, especially in higher rinse-off concentrations
- Rare sensitization over time leading to increased reactivity with repeated exposure
If any discomfort or adverse reaction occurs stop using the product and seek advice from a healthcare professional or dermatologist.
Comedogenic Rating
Rating: 1 / 5
Peg-12 Tallate is largely water soluble and has a small molecular size compared with thick plant butters or heavy oils which means it sits on the skin lightly and rinses away easily. It functions mainly as an emulsifier rather than an occlusive agent so it rarely blocks pores. Because of this low likelihood of congestion it earns a rating of 1 out of 5.
Most people prone to acne or breakouts can usually use products containing Peg-12 Tallate without seeing new blemishes, provided the rest of the formula is also low on pore-clogging ingredients. Very oily complexions might still prefer lightweight or gel formats where the overall oil load is minimal.
Summary
Peg-12 Tallate is an emulsifier that keeps oil and water phases blended by pairing a fatty tail from tall oil with a water loving polyethylene glycol chain. This dual nature lets it stabilize creams, improve spreadability and give formulas a smoother feel.
It is one of many PEG based emulsifiers on the market so it is not a headline ingredient yet formulators appreciate its plant derived backbone and reliable performance. You will see it pop up most often in mid priced moisturizers, cleansers and hair conditioners where brands want a light non greasy texture.
Current safety reviews show Peg-12 Tallate to be low risk at the concentrations used in cosmetics and its comedogenic rating is very low. Still individual reactions vary which is why doing a small patch test when trying any new product is always the safest approach.