PEG-3 RAPESEED AMINOPROPYLAMINE

INCI: PEG-3 RAPESEED AMINOPROPYLAMINE | Function: Surfactant, Emulsifier | Type: Stabilizer

What Is PEG-3 RAPESEED AMINOPROPYLAMINE?

A PEG-3 aminopropylamine derivative of rapeseed oil. This multi-functional surfactant combines a fatty amine structure from rapeseed oil with a short PEG chain and an aminopropyl group. It functions as a mild cationic surfactant and emulsifier, primarily used in hair care products for conditioning and detangling, and in some mild cleansing formulations.

Key Skin Benefits

+ Hair conditioning — improves wet and dry combability in shampoos and conditioners
+ Mild cleansing co-surfactant — contributes to gentle foam in body washes
+ Renewable rapeseed source — plant-based fatty acid feedstock

Pros

+ CIR-reviewed — aminopropylamines considered safe in rinse-off cosmetics
+ Effective conditioning at low concentrations
+ Good biodegradability
+ Plant-derived starting material

Cons

− PEG content — ethoxylation introduces trace impurity risk
− Amine-based — potential for skin/eye irritation if used in leave-on products
− Limited to rinse-off applications
− Very limited individual ingredient safety data

Specifications

Property	Value
Usage Areas	Face, Eye, Body
Product Type	Leave-On, Rinse-Off
Source	Semi-synthetic
Natural Level	Semi-synthetic

Safety Ratings

Metric	Rating
Skin Sensitivity	1/5 (very low)
Comedogenic Rating	0/5
EWG Score	1/10

Regional Regulatory Limits

Region	Leave-on %	Rinse-off %	Status
EU (CosIng)	No limit	No limit	Allowed
US (CIR/FDA)	No limit	No limit	Allowed
Japan (MHLW)	No limit	No limit	Allowed
ASEAN	No limit	No limit	Allowed
China (NMPA)	No limit	No limit	Allowed

Typical Usage % by Product Type

Product Type	Typical %
Hair conditioners	0.5-3%
2-in-1 shampoos	0.5-2%

References

CIR (2018) — Safety Assessment of Plant Oil-Derived Fatty Acid Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics.
Lin TK et al. (2018) — Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. Int J Mol Sci. PMID: 29280987.
CosIng (2025) — European Commission Cosmetic Ingredient Database. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/
EWG Skin Deep — Cosmetic Ingredient Database. https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

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