A polyethylene glycol amide of stearic acid, produced by reacting stearic acid with an amine followed by ethoxylation with 4 moles of ethylene oxide. PEG Stearamides are nonionic surfactants that function as foam boosters and viscosity builders in cleansing products. They are commonly used in shampoos, body washes, and facial cleansers to improve foam quality and product texture.
Key Skin Benefits
+ Foam boosting — enhances the richness and stability of foam in cleansers
+ Viscosity building — thickens surfactant systems for better product feel
+ Mild surfactant — contributes to cleansing without harshness
+ Conditioning effect — leaves hair and skin feeling soft
Pros
+ Effective foam booster at low concentrations (0.5-2%)
+ Improves product texture and viscosity — enhances consumer experience
+ Mild, non-irritating — suitable for daily-use cleansers
+ Compatible with all surfactant types (anionic, amphoteric, nonionic)
Cons
− Ethoxylation by-products — 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide trace concerns
− Fully synthetic — petroleum-derived PEG chain
− Contributes to product cost without adding active benefit
− May leave residue on hair at high concentrations
Specifications
Property
Value
Usage Areas
Face, Body, Hair
Product Type
Rinse-Off
Source
Synthetic
Natural Level
Synthetic
Safety Ratings
Metric
Rating
Skin Sensitivity
1/5 (very low)
Comedogenic Rating
0/5
EWG Score
3/10
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 %
Shampoos
0.5 - 2%
Body wash
0.5 - 2%
Facial cleansers
0.5 - 1.5%
References
CIR (2010) — Safety Assessment of PEGs. https://www.cir-safety.org/
CosIng (2025) — European Commission Cosmetic Ingredient Database. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/
EWG Skin Deep — PEG compound database. https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/