What Is Peg-30 Lanolin?
Peg-30 Lanolin is a modified form of lanolin, the natural waxy substance washed from freshly shorn sheep’s wool. Chemists react raw lanolin with about 30 units of ethylene oxide in a process called ethoxylation, turning the mostly oil-loving wax into a water-compatible ingredient. This tweak keeps the skin-friendly feel of traditional lanolin while making it much easier to blend into modern water-based formulas.
Lanolin has been prized for centuries as a protective salve, but its heavy texture limited its use. In the mid-20th century formulators began ethoxylating lanolin to create lighter grades that could cleanse and emulsify without leaving a greasy film. Peg-30 Lanolin is one of those grades, valued for its balance of softness and rinse-off behavior.
Today you are most likely to find Peg-30 Lanolin in facial cleansers, milky makeup removers, creamy body washes, moisturizers, hair conditioners, styling creams and some soothing masks where it helps keep oil and water mixed while adding a subtle conditioned finish.
Peg-30 Lanolin’s Cosmetic Benefits/Uses
This ingredient earns its spot in formulas by carrying out two key jobs.
- Cleansing: The ethoxylated structure lets it grab on to both oil and water, so it lifts makeup dirt and excess sebum then rinses away without stripping the skin or hair.
- Emulsifying: It acts as a bridge between oily and watery components, creating stable lotions and creams that stay smooth on the shelf and feel uniform when applied.
Who Can Use Peg-30 Lanolin
Most skin types can tolerate Peg-30 Lanolin. Its lightweight conditioning feel suits normal, dry and mature skin particularly well because it helps trap moisture without a heavy waxy film. Combination skin usually gets on fine too. Very oily or acne-prone skin may find repeated use a bit rich since lanolin derivatives can still sit in pores more than purely water-based ingredients.
Because this material comes from sheep wool it is not suitable for vegans. Vegetarians who are comfortable using non-animal-derived by-products generally consider wool ingredients acceptable as the sheep are shorn rather than harmed.
No research shows Peg-30 Lanolin to be unsafe during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, but this is not medical advice. Expectant or nursing mothers should run any skincare routine past a qualified healthcare professional to be sure it meets their personal needs.
The ingredient does not cause photosensitivity so it will not make skin more prone to sunburn. It also works across a wide pH range making it compatible with most other actives in a routine.
Potential Side Effects/Adverse Reactions
Reactions to topical Peg-30 Lanolin vary from person to person. The points below list potential side effects yet they are not common when the ingredient is used correctly in a well-formulated product.
- Allergic contact dermatitis in individuals sensitive to wool alcohols or lanolin
- Mild stinging or redness on very compromised or freshly exfoliated skin
- Clogged pores or small breakouts on highly oil-prone areas
- Eye irritation if the product is accidentally rubbed into the eyes in high concentration
If irritation or any unwanted reaction occurs discontinue use and seek guidance from a healthcare professional.
Comedogenic Rating
Rating: 2 out of 5. Peg-30 Lanolin keeps some of the oil-like nature of raw lanolin but the ethoxylation step gives it partial water solubility that helps it rinse away more easily. This reduces the chance of it sitting in pores compared with unmodified lanolin, yet it is still richer than a fully water-based surfactant, so a mild clogging risk remains. People who break out easily may prefer to limit use or choose lighter alternatives, while most other skin types should have no trouble. The formulator’s choice of companion ingredients and the final rinse-off or leave-on format can push the real-world risk up or down.
Summary
Peg-30 Lanolin mainly cleanses and emulsifies. Its dual oil-and-water friendly structure lifts dirt makeup and extra sebum then helps them rinse off, while also acting as the glue that keeps oils and water blended in creams and washes. Because it leaves a soft conditioned feel many formulators tuck it into gentle cleansers moisturizers and hair products, but it is not as common as synthetic emulsifiers so it remains a niche yet reliable workhorse rather than a headline ingredient.
Safety studies and decades of cosmetic use show Peg-30 Lanolin to be well tolerated for most people when used at standard levels. Patch test any new product that contains it just to stay on the safe side, especially if you have very reactive or acne-prone skin.