What Is Peg-75 Shorea Butter Glycerides?
Peg-75 Shorea Butter Glycerides is a plant-derived ingredient made from shorea butter, the creamy fat pressed from the seeds of the Shorea stenoptera tree that grows in Southeast Asian rainforests. Chemically it starts as a mix of natural triglycerides, which are then reacted with ethylene oxide until an average of 75 units attaches to each molecule. This process, called ethoxylation, turns the mostly oil-loving butter into a water-friendly substance that can blend smoothly into modern skin and hair formulas.
Shorea butter itself has been used for generations as a rich skin conditioner similar to cocoa butter. In the late twentieth century, formulators began modifying it with polyethylene glycol (PEG) so it would dissolve in water and create stable emulsions. The resulting Peg-75 Shorea Butter Glycerides offers the softness of the original butter along with the practical performance needed in cleansers and lotions.
Manufacturing starts with sustainably sourced shorea nuts that are pressed for their butter. The butter is combined with glycerin, then carefully treated with controlled amounts of ethylene oxide. After purification and quality checks, the finished ingredient appears as a soft, waxy solid that disperses easily in warm water.
You will most often spot Peg-75 Shorea Butter Glycerides in facial cleansers, body washes, shampoos, makeup removers, micellar waters, lightweight lotions and baby wash products where gentle cleansing and a smooth feel are priorities.
Peg-75 Shorea Butter Glycerides’s Cosmetic Benefits/Uses
This ingredient brings two main technical advantages to personal care products
- Cleansing: Its unique blend of oil-loving and water-loving parts helps lift away dirt, excess sebum and makeup, then rinse them off without stripping the skin or hair of moisture
- Emulsifying: It binds water and oil into a stable mixture so formulas stay uniform, feel smooth and require fewer synthetic stabilizers
Who Can Use Peg-75 Shorea Butter Glycerides
This versatile ingredient is generally considered suitable for all skin types including dry, normal, combination and oily. Its gentle cleansing action helps balance oilier skins while the fatty acids from shorea butter lend light conditioning that comforts drier complexions without feeling heavy. Sensitive skin usually tolerates it well because it is mild and free of added fragrance or harsh surfactants.
Peg-75 Shorea Butter Glycerides is derived entirely from plant sources so it aligns with vegan and vegetarian lifestyles. Nothing from animals is used in its production.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women can use products containing this ingredient in normal cosmetic concentrations. There is no published evidence showing it penetrates deeply or acts as a hormone disruptor. That said, this is not medical advice and anyone who is expecting or nursing should review all skin care with a qualified healthcare professional to be safe.
The ingredient is not known to cause photosensitivity so it will not make skin more prone to sunburn. It also has no scent of its own and does not interfere with most active ingredients, which lets formulators pair it with acids, retinoids or botanical extracts without issue.
Potential Side Effects/Adverse Reactions
Reactions to topical Peg-75 Shorea Butter Glycerides differ from person to person. The points below outline potential side effects, though most users will never experience them when the ingredient is properly formulated and used as directed.
- Mild skin irritation such as redness or itching in very sensitive individuals
- Allergic contact dermatitis in the rare case of a specific sensitivity to shorea tree derivatives or polyethylene glycol
- Eye irritation if a high concentration rinses directly into the eyes before being diluted with water
If any discomfort, rash or other negative reaction appears, discontinue use and consult a medical professional.
Comedogenic Rating
Rating: 1/5. Because the shorea butter has been heavily PEG-modified it is far more water-soluble than the raw fat and therefore does not sit in pores the way thicker butters can. It leaves only a light, rinsable film that is unlikely to trap dead skin cells or excess oil. In most formulas it shows up at low to moderate levels, further reducing any clogging risk.
Suitable for acne-prone or breakout-prone skin in the vast majority of cases.
As with many PEG derivatives its behavior also depends on the rest of the formula; if it is paired with very heavy oils the overall product could still feel occlusive even though this single ingredient is not highly comedogenic.
Summary
Peg-75 Shorea Butter Glycerides acts mainly as a gentle cleanser and as an emulsifier. Its molecule holds both water-loving PEG chains and oil-loving fatty acids, so it can grab onto grime and oils while staying soluble enough to rinse away cleanly. The same split personality lets it keep water and oil evenly blended, giving lotions and washes a smooth, stable texture.
It is not a headline ingredient like hyaluronic acid or vitamin C but formulators appreciate its reliability, mildness and plant origin, so it quietly appears in a fair number of modern cleansers and light moisturizers.
Safety data show a very low irritation profile and virtually no toxicity concerns at cosmetic use levels. Even so every skin is different; do a quick patch test with any new product containing this ingredient for extra peace of mind.