PPG-20-LAURETH-12

Substance information

"PPG" refers to a PPG-(polypropylene glycol-) derivative. The number behind "PPG-" (in the event of mixed PEG/PPG derivatives, the second number) states the average number of molecular units -CH2-CH2-CH2-O-. "Laureth-" refers to a PEG-(polyethylene glycol-) ether of lauryl alcohol. The number behind "laureth-" refers to the average number of molecular units -CH2-CH2-O-.

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Function(s) of this ingredient in cosmetic products

CLEANSING

Cleans skin, hair or teeth

SURFACTANT - CLEANSING

Surface-active agent to clean skin, hair and / or teeth

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Background information on use in cosmetics

Polypropylene glycol (PPGs) and their derivatives are used in cosmetic products like the polyethylene glycols (PEGs). They are often used in cosmetic products since they have a broad range of viscosity and solubility properties and have a very good skin tolerance. As water soluble, non-greasy substances, polypropylene glycols are suited for many cosmetic purposes. The liquid PPGs serve, for instance, as solubilizers and solvents. Surfactants are so-called detergent substances and have a major significance in cosmetics for the cleansing of the skin and hair. Surfactants are substances which, based on their molecular structure, are able to reduce the surface tension of a liquid. In this way it is possible that two actually not mixable substances, such as oil and water, can be finely mixed. Because of their properties, surfactants have manifold uses in cosmetics: they can cleanse, produce foam and act as emulsifiers and mix substances with one another. In shampoos, shower gels and soaps, surfactants are, for instance, used to wash fat and soil particles with water off from the body. Surfactants are also used in toothpaste. Here they promote during tooth cleaning the rapid and full dissolution and distribution of the paste in the mouth. The surfactants used in cosmetic products are primarily produced synthetically on the basis of vegetable raw materials. Surfactants are often used in combination to equally meet all desired requirements – like dissolution of soil and formation of foam in combination with a good skin tolerance – in the best possible manner. Through a skilled combination of a surfactant – viewed on its own – with unfavourable skin tolerance but a very good soil removal property with a very mild, skin protecting surfactant altogether a product with good cleansing properties and the same good skin tolerances is obtained. Polyethylene glycols (INCI: PEG-...) are poly condensation products of ethylene glycol, or polymerisation products of ethylene oxide. The number added to the name refers to the mean number of ethylene oxide units in the substance. The consistency of the PEG derivatives is increasingly solid with a growing degree of polymerisation. PEGs with a mean molar mass of up to 600 g/mol are liquid, up to 1,000 g/mol wax-like and from 4,000 g/mol solid wax-like substances. By mixing solid and liquid components, products of a creamy consistency are obtained which are used as water-free and water rinse-off bases. With growing molar mass water solubility and hygroscopicity (ability to absorb moisture) of the polyethylene glycols decrease.

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Information on safe use

Claudia Fruijtier-Pölloth: Safety assessment on polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and their derivatives as used in cosmetic products. In: "Toxicology" (2005), No. 214, P. 1-38. Publisher: Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

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Belongs to the following substance groups

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Regulating cosmetics

Cosmetics Ingredients are subject to regulation. Please note, different regulations may apply to cosmetic ingredients outside the EU.