What Is Peg-40 Olive Glycerides?
Peg-40 Olive Glycerides is a plant-derived ingredient made by combining the mono- and diglycerides found naturally in olive oil with roughly forty units of ethylene oxide. The result is a water-compatible form of olive oil that bridges the gap between oil and water in cosmetic formulas. Peg-based emulsifiers first appeared in beauty products in the 1950s as manufacturers searched for stable, non-irritating ways to mix oils and water. Using olive oil as the starting material became popular later as brands leaned into renewable, skin-friendly sources.
Production starts with food-grade olive oil that is split into mono- and diglycerides. These molecules are then reacted with ethylene oxide in a controlled setting that regulates temperature, pressure and pH. The finished ingredient is a thick, pale liquid that dissolves in both water and oil, making it easy to add during the cool-down phase of manufacturing.
You will see Peg-40 Olive Glycerides in facial cleansers, micellar waters, lotions, creams, makeup removers, hair conditioners, sheet masks and soothing after-sun gels. It is especially common in products marketed as lightweight or non-greasy because it helps oils feel less heavy on the skin.
Peg-40 Olive Glycerides’s Cosmetic Benefits/Uses
This ingredient plays a single but essential role in many formulations.
As an emulsifying agent it keeps oil and water evenly blended so the product stays smooth, stable and pleasant to use. A good emulsion prevents separation in the jar, delivers active ingredients uniformly across the skin and creates a silky texture that spreads with minimal rubbing.
Who Can Use Peg-40 Olive Glycerides
Peg-40 Olive Glycerides is gentle enough for most skin types, including dry, normal and combination skin. Its light feel also makes it suitable for oily or acne-prone skin because it helps keep formulas from feeling greasy. Those with very sensitive skin usually tolerate it well, though anyone with a known allergy to olive oil derivatives should steer clear.
The ingredient is made from olive oil and synthetic ethylene oxide, so it contains no animal by-products. That means products using Peg-40 Olive Glycerides are generally compatible with vegan and vegetarian lifestyles, provided the rest of the formula meets the same standard.
No evidence suggests that Peg-40 Olive Glycerides causes problems for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding when applied to the skin. Still, this is not medical advice and anyone who is expecting or nursing should review any skincare routine with a qualified healthcare provider.
Peg-40 Olive Glycerides does not cause photosensitivity, so it will not make skin more prone to sunburn. It also does not interfere with common active ingredients like retinol or vitamin C, allowing it to fit easily into most routines.
Potential Side Effects/Adverse Reactions
Responses to topical Peg-40 Olive Glycerides vary from person to person. The effects listed below are possible yet uncommon as most users experience no trouble when the ingredient is used correctly in a well-formulated product.
- Mild skin irritation
- Redness or itching in individuals allergic to olive derivatives
- Eye stinging if the product accidentally gets into the eyes
- Rare contact dermatitis in people with highly reactive skin
If any discomfort or unusual reaction occurs stop using the product and seek advice from a healthcare professional.
Comedogenic Rating
Rating: 1 / 5
Because Peg-40 Olive Glycerides is highly water dispersible and used at low concentrations, it is far less likely to sit inside pores than unmodified olive oil which carries a rating of about 2. The ethoxylation step makes the molecule more hydrophilic, helping it rinse away instead of lingering on the skin surface. This means it poses minimal risk of clogging pores under normal use. People who are prone to acne or breakouts can typically use it without issues, although product texture and the presence of heavier oils in the same formula will also influence the overall pore-clogging potential.
The final comedogenicity of any product depends on the full ingredient mix, so a formula packed with rich butters could still feel heavy even if Peg-40 Olive Glycerides itself is low risk.
Summary
Peg-40 Olive Glycerides is a plant-derived emulsifier that keeps water and oil phases blended, lending cosmetics a smooth, stable feel while preventing separation. Its light, almost weightless texture comes from adding about forty ethylene oxide units to olive glycerides, a tweak that lets it dissolve in both water and oil. This versatility makes it popular in cleansers, lotions, makeup removers and even hair care, though it is not as buzzworthy as newer “clean beauty” emulsifiers so you may not see it highlighted on front labels.
Safety data show it is generally well tolerated, with a very low rate of irritation or sensitization. As with any new skincare ingredient you should patch test a fresh product on a small area and wait 24 hours before full-face use, just to be safe.