What Is Peg-5 Hydrogenated Tallow Amine?
Peg-5 Hydrogenated Tallow Amine is a synthetic fatty amine derived from animal tallow that has been hydrogenated and then reacted with about five units of ethylene oxide. The result is an ethoxylated amine that carries both oil-loving and water-loving parts, making it useful for blending ingredients that normally separate. Its roots go back to the mid-20th century when chemists were searching for cost-effective ways to turn surplus animal fats into versatile cosmetic raw materials. By adding controlled amounts of ethylene oxide, they created a stable, water-dispersible agent that quickly gained favor in lotions and creams.
Manufacturing starts with cleaned, purified tallow that is hydrogenated to improve stability and remove odors. The hydrogenated fat is converted to amines, then reacted under pressure with ethylene oxide. Careful monitoring ensures an average of five ethylene oxide units per molecule, giving a consistent Peg-5 grade. The final material is filtered and tested for purity before being supplied as a viscous liquid or soft paste.
Its ability to help oil and water mingle means you will most often find Peg-5 Hydrogenated Tallow Amine in moisturizers, body lotions, hand creams, sunscreens, hair conditioners, rinse-off masks and some anti-aging serums. Formulators like it because it offers reliable performance at low concentrations and works well alongside a wide range of other ingredients.
Peg-5 Hydrogenated Tallow Amine’s Cosmetic Benefits/Uses
This ingredient plays a focused yet important role in many personal care products.
Emulsifying: Peg-5 Hydrogenated Tallow Amine helps keep oil and water phases blended into a smooth, uniform mixture. A stable emulsion means the product spreads evenly, feels pleasant on skin or hair and maintains its texture and appearance throughout its shelf life.
Who Can Use Peg-5 Hydrogenated Tallow Amine
Peg-5 Hydrogenated Tallow Amine is generally well tolerated by most skin types, including normal, dry and combination skin because it is used at very low levels and primarily functions as a helper ingredient rather than an active treatment. People with very oily or extremely sensitive skin might prefer to monitor how their skin responds since any tallow-derived material could feel a bit heavier or occasionally aggravate reactive skin, though this is uncommon.
Because the molecule comes from animal tallow it is not suitable for vegans or strict vegetarians. Anyone following a plant-only lifestyle who wishes to avoid animal-derived ingredients should look for emulsifiers marked as plant sourced instead.
No specific warnings exist for pregnant or breastfeeding women when Peg-5 Hydrogenated Tallow Amine appears in rinse-off or leave-on cosmetics. The amounts are tiny and systemic absorption is expected to be negligible, but this is not medical advice. If you are pregnant or nursing run any product you plan to use past your doctor just to be safe.
The ingredient is not known to cause photosensitivity so there is no special need for extra sun protection beyond daily sunscreen use that is already recommended.
Potential Side Effects/Adverse Reactions
Reactions to topical Peg-5 Hydrogenated Tallow Amine differ from person to person. The following points note potential side effects that can occur even though most users should not expect to experience them when the ingredient is properly formulated and used as intended.
- Mild skin irritation such as redness stinging or itching
- Allergic contact dermatitis in individuals sensitized to tallow derivatives or ethoxylated compounds
- Eye irritation if the product accidentally makes contact with the eyes
- Occlusive feel or occasional pore clogging on very oily or acne-prone skin
If you notice any of these effects stop using the product and seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional or dermatologist.
Comedogenic Rating
Rating: 2 / 5
Peg-5 Hydrogenated Tallow Amine sits on the lower side of the scale because it is used at very small percentages and is highly water dispersible, so it does not linger on the skin the way heavier oils or waxes do. Its tallow backbone can feel slightly occlusive on very oily skin which is why it does not earn a zero. Overall it poses a low to moderate risk of clogging pores.
Most people prone to acne can use products containing this emulsifier without major concern, but those with persistent breakouts might prefer lighter plant-based alternatives.
Formulation style matters; when paired with non-comedogenic oils and used in rinse-off products the risk drops even further.
Summary
Peg-5 Hydrogenated Tallow Amine is mainly an emulsifier that keeps oil and water mixed so creams stay smooth, spread easily and feel pleasant. It does this by carrying a fatty portion that loves oil and an ethoxylated portion that loves water, allowing the two to link up and stay stable throughout a product’s shelf life.
The ingredient is common in budget friendly lotions and conditioners but less trendy than newer plant-derived emulsifiers, so you may not see it highlighted on marketing materials even though it still shows up on many ingredient lists.
When used at typical cosmetic levels it is considered safe for healthy adults and there are no major red flags from regulators. As with any new formula you try, do a small patch test first to make sure your skin agrees with it.