PEG? What is it? What does it do?

[JusticeMe]

Many products contain "PEG" followed by some number. What is PEG? Is it a natural/organic? And is it harmful to the hair? What purpose does it serve?

Some product that have PEG include:

-WEN Sweet Almond Mint
-Creme of Nature Moisture Extreme Conditioner
-Miss Jessie's products
-Tui Hair Smoothie by Carol's Daughter

 

[msa]

Here's what I found:

polyethylene glycol. Also listed as PEG on ingredient labels, polyethylene glycol is an ingredient that self-proclaimed “natural” Web sites have attempted to make notoriously evil. They gain a great deal of attention by attributing horror stories to PEG, associating it with antifreeze (however, antifreeze is ethylene glycol, not polyethylene glycol), and there is no research indicating that PEG compounds pose any problem for skin. Quite the contrary: PEGs have no known skin toxicity and can be used on skin with great results (Sources: Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, June 2002, pages 587–606; and Cancer Research, June 2002, pages 3138–3143). The only negative research for this ingredient indicates that large quantities given orally to rats can cause tumors, but that is unrelated to topical application.

Polyethylene, when it is not combined with glycol, is the most common form of plastic used in the world. It is flexible and has a smooth, waxy feel. When ground up, the small particles are included in scrubs as a gentle abrasive. When mixed with glycol, it becomes a viscous liquid. In the minuscule amounts used in cosmetics, it helps keep products stable and performs functions similar to those of glycerin. Because polyethylene glycol can penetrate skin, it is also a vehicle that helps deliver other ingredients deeper into the skin. It is also used internally in medical procedures to flush and clean the intestinal tract. See propylene glycol.

This is what Skin Deep (Cosmetic Database) says about. It gives it a pretty high hazard score. I guess you just have to decide for yourself on this one.

 

[Cali*Rocks]

I always thought that PEG 40 was castor oil Lemme go check on that

 

[darlingdiva]

The only thing I've ever heard about PEG is that if it comes before a silicone, it means that the silicone is water soluble & should be able to be removed from your hair by just rinsing your hair w/ water.

 

[msa]

I always thought that PEG 40 was castor oil Lemme go check on that

There are different types of hydrogenated castor oil that include PEG-40 castor oil along with PEG-33 and others. "PEG" itself is not castor oil though, it's polyethylene glycol.

Ricinus Communis is the scientific name for the castor oil plant.

 

[PeanutButterandHoney]

I thought that PEG- a number, indicates that the silicone has been made water soluble, which means it can be rinsed with water alone.