PEG-7 RICINOLEATE

INCI: PEG-7 RICINOLEATE | Function: Emulsifier, Skin Conditioning | Type: Stabilizer

What Is PEG-7 RICINOLEATE?

A PEG-7 ester of ricinoleic acid from castor oil. With 7 PEG units, this ingredient has balanced hydrophilic-lipophilic properties, making it an effective O/W emulsifier and co-emulsifier in creams and lotions. It provides mild skin conditioning from the ricinoleic acid component while helping stabilize emulsions.

Key Skin Benefits

+ O/W emulsifier — stabilizes oil droplets in water-based creams and lotions
+ Mild conditioning — ricinoleic acid provides skin-softening benefits
+ Versatile usage — works in both leave-on and rinse-off formulations

Pros

+ CIR-reviewed — safe for cosmetic use
+ Renewable castor oil source
+ Good balance of properties — emulsifies and conditions simultaneously
+ Non-comedogenic
+ Works across a range of product types

Cons

− PEG content — ethoxylation impurity considerations
− Limited specific clinical data
− May require co-emulsifier for very stable emulsions

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 %
Creams / lotions	1-5%
Conditioning 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/

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