What Is Peg-23 Olivate?
Peg-23 Olivate is a plant-derived cosmetic ingredient made by reacting olive oil fatty acids with ethylene oxide until an average of 23 units of ethylene oxide attach to each fatty acid. This process, called ethoxylation, turns the naturally oily acids into a water-friendly substance that can mix both with oils and with water. The result is a soft, creamy material that looks like a waxy solid or thick liquid at room temperature and has a mild, almost neutral scent.
Olive oil has been prized for skin care since ancient times, but it was the rise of modern surfactant chemistry in the mid-20th century that led formulators to combine it with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to create Peg-type olive ingredients. Peg-23 Olivate became popular because its specific peg chain length strikes a balance between oil solubility and water solubility, giving it multiple roles in beauty products.
Manufacturers start with refined olive oil, split it into fatty acids, purify them, then add controlled amounts of ethylene oxide under heat and pressure. Safety checks remove any unwanted residues before the final ingredient ships out.
You will see Peg-23 Olivate in cleansers, face masks, light lotions, cream moisturizers, anti-aging serums, makeup removers and even some hair conditioners where a gentle, olive-based touch is desired.
Peg-23 Olivate’s Cosmetic Benefits/Uses
This versatile ingredient offers several helpful roles in everyday formulas:
- Emollient – softens and smooths the skin surface by filling in tiny gaps between dead skin cells, leaving skin feeling supple and comfortable
- Cleansing – lifts away dirt, excess oil and makeup while being milder than many traditional surfactants, which helps reduce the risk of dryness or tightness after rinsing
- Emulsifying – keeps oil and water phases blended so creams stay stable, silky and uniform for the life of the product
Who Can Use Peg-23 Olivate
Peg-23 Olivate is generally well tolerated by most skin types including normal, dry, combination and oily skin thanks to its balanced mix of oil-loving and water-loving parts. Sensitive complexions usually do fine with it because it is milder than many traditional surfactants, though very reactive skin may prefer shorter contact times or lower concentrations.
The ingredient is sourced from olive oil and synthetic ethylene oxide, making it free of animal by-products. That means products using Peg-23 Olivate are suitable for vegans and vegetarians as long as the rest of the formula also meets their criteria.
No specific red flags exist for pregnant or breastfeeding women when Peg-23 Olivate is applied topically, but this is not medical advice. Anyone who is expecting or nursing should review all personal care items with their physician to be on the safe side.
Peg-23 Olivate is not known to increase photosensitivity, so it will not make skin more prone to sunburn. As with any surfactant-type material, leaving it on the skin for extended periods in high amounts could lead to dryness, but this is unlikely in well balanced formulations.
Potential Side Effects/Adverse Reactions
Responses to topical Peg-23 Olivate differ from person to person. The effects below are possible but uncommon when the ingredient is used at appropriate levels in properly formulated products.
- Mild redness, stinging or itching
- Contact allergy such as a localized rash in individuals sensitive to PEGs or olive derivatives
- Temporary dryness or tightness if the formula contains a high percentage of surfactants and is not followed by moisturizer
- Pimples or clogged pores in extremely acne-prone skin when used in very rich leave-on products
- Eye irritation or watering if cleanser or cream accidentally gets into the eyes
If any of these reactions occur discontinue use and seek guidance from a healthcare professional.
Comedogenic Rating
Rating: 1 out of 5
Peg-23 Olivate starts with olive fatty acids, which on their own can rate around a 2, but once they are heavily pegylated they become far more water soluble and less likely to lodge in pores. The molecule is large, partially water loving, and usually used at moderate levels so it tends to rinse or rub away cleanly rather than sit inside follicles. For these reasons it earns a low score of 1.
This means the ingredient is generally suitable for people who are prone to acne or breakouts, especially in rinse off or lightweight leave on formulas.
As with any emulsifier, the finished product’s entire recipe matters. Very rich creams that combine Peg-23 Olivate with heavy oils or waxes could still feel occlusive on highly reactive skin, while gel cleansers and fluid lotions are unlikely to pose issues.
Summary
Peg-23 Olivate acts as an emollient that softens skin, a mild cleanser that lifts away dirt and makeup, and an emulsifier that keeps water and oil phases blended. It pulls off this multitasking act because its pegylated part loves water while its olive derived tail loves oil, letting it bridge the two worlds with ease.
You will spot it in a fair number of modern cleansers, micellar waters and light creams though it is not as omnipresent as classic surfactants like sodium laureth sulfate. Brands that favor plant inspired yet science backed ingredients lean on it for its gentle touch and stability.
Safety profiles are strong: toxicity tests are favorable, irritation is rare and the low comedogenic rating makes it friendly for most skin types. Still everyone’s skin is unique so it is wise to patch test any new product that features Peg-23 Olivate before slathering it on daily.