What Is Peg-54 Hydrogenated Castor Oil?
Peg-54 Hydrogenated Castor Oil comes from castor beans grown on the Ricinus communis plant. First the raw castor oil is extracted from the seeds, then it is hydrogenated to turn its naturally unsaturated fatty acids into saturated ones, making the oil solid and more stable. After hydrogenation the oil is reacted with about 54 units of ethylene oxide per molecule, a step called ethoxylation, which adds water-loving polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains. The result is a wax-like ingredient that can mix with both oils and water.
Castor oil itself has been used for centuries in soaps and balms. During the middle of the 20th century chemists began modifying it to improve texture and safety in modern cosmetics. Peg-54 Hydrogenated Castor Oil quickly found a place in personal care labs because it keeps products uniform and easy to rinse off.
You will often spot this ingredient in facial cleansers, micellar waters, makeup removers, shampoos, body washes, sheet masks, lightweight moisturizers, baby wipes and some hair styling creams. Its ability to dissolve grime while holding formulas together makes it a behind-the-scenes workhorse in many everyday products.
Peg-54 Hydrogenated Castor Oil’s Cosmetic Benefits/Uses
This ingredient is valued for two main technical roles that translate into user-friendly benefits:
- Cleansing – Its dual love for oil and water lets it lift makeup, sunscreen and excess sebum from the skin or hair, then rinse away without heavy residue. This helps cleansers feel gentle yet effective.
- Emulsifying – It links oily and watery parts of a formula so they stay smoothly blended during storage and use. Stable emulsions prevent product separation, improve spreadability and give lotions or washes a pleasant, uniform feel.
Who Can Use Peg-54 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Most skin types can use Peg-54 Hydrogenated Castor Oil comfortably. Its mild cleansing action suits oily and combination skin without leaving a film, while its silky texture helps dry or mature skin avoid that tight stripped feeling. Sensitive skin generally tolerates it because the hydrogenation step removes many natural allergens found in raw castor oil, though anyone with a known allergy to castor derivatives or polyethylene glycol should steer clear.
The ingredient is sourced entirely from castor beans with no animal by-products so it is compatible with vegan and vegetarian lifestyles.
There is no evidence that topical use poses a risk during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Still, this is not medical advice and expectant or nursing parents should run any skincare routine past their doctor just to be safe.
Peg-54 Hydrogenated Castor Oil does not increase photosensitivity, meaning it will not make skin more prone to sunburn. It is also odorless, colorless and free of essential oils, making it a quiet team player in fragrance-free or dye-free formulas.
Potential Side Effects/Adverse Reactions
Responses to topical Peg-54 Hydrogenated Castor Oil vary from person to person. The points below outline potential side effects that may occur in a small minority of users. When formulated correctly most people will not notice any of these issues.
- Mild skin irritation especially on compromised or freshly exfoliated skin
- Allergic contact dermatitis in individuals sensitive to castor oil or PEG compounds
- Temporary eye stinging if cleanser or shampoo runs into the eyes
- Rare pore congestion in very acne-prone users when applied in leave-on products
If you experience redness, itching or any persistent discomfort stop using the product and consult a healthcare professional.
Comedogenic Rating
Rating: 1 / 5 (low)
Peg-54 Hydrogenated Castor Oil has a bulky PEG shell that keeps it mostly on the skin’s surface and helps it rinse away easily. The hydrogenation step removes many of the sticky unsaturated bonds found in raw castor oil, further limiting its ability to clog pores. Most of the time it is used in cleansers or light emulsions that do not linger on the skin, lowering the chance of buildup.
Suitable for acne-prone users in most rinse-off or lightweight leave-on products, though very reactive skin types may still prefer alternatives.
Comedogenicity can rise slightly if the ingredient is part of a rich balm or layered with heavy occlusives, so product context matters.
Summary
Peg-54 Hydrogenated Castor Oil acts as a gentle cleanser and a reliable emulsifier. Its oil-loving castor backbone captures makeup and sebum while the added PEG chains bond with water, letting debris lift away when you rinse. The same dual nature holds oil and water phases together so lotions and washes stay smooth and uniform.
While it is not a headline-grabbing ingredient, formulators reach for it regularly because it is cost-effective, vegan friendly and easy to work with. You will spot it in everything from foaming face washes to baby wipes.
Safety studies and decades of use show a low risk of irritation, allergy or pore clogging for most people. Still, everyone’s skin is different so it is smart to patch test any new product that contains this or any other ingredient.