A high-PEG (40 units) amide of ricinoleic acid from castor oil. The long PEG chain makes this ingredient highly water-soluble and an effective solubilizer for fragrances, essential oils, and lipophilic actives in aqueous cosmetics. It also functions as a mild co-surfactant in cleansing systems, contributing to gentle foam and conditioning.
Key Skin Benefits
+ Excellent solubilizer — disperses fragrances and essential oils into water-based products
+ Mild surfactant — contributes to gentle cleansing without stripping
+ Castor oil derived — renewable plant source
Pros
+ CIR-reviewed — safe for cosmetic use
+ Highly water-soluble — easy to formulate with
+ Effective at low concentrations — typically 0.5-3% for solubilization
+ Plant-based starting material
+ Good for clear formulations — does not cloud transparent products
Cons
− High PEG content — increased ethoxylation impurity risk
− Limited individual safety data beyond class review
− Not for leave-on at high concentrations — potential irritation risk
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 %
Fragrance solubilization
0.5-3%
Cleansers
1-4%
References
CIR (2018) — Safety Assessment of Castor Oil-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics.
Patel VR et al. (2016) — Castor oil: properties, uses, and optimization of processing parameters. Lipids in Health and Disease. PMID: 27592170.
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/