Are ceteareth-25 & PEG ingredients toxic?

Formulating

Are ceteareth-25 & PEG ingredients toxic?

Posted by Newtoformulating on February 17, 2020 at 10:40 pm

Hello all! I’m really stumped on this. I’ve done alot of research on the ingredients I am using to create my waterbased edge control and so far I’m pretty satisfied with the progress I have made but I keep coming back to three ingredients….. ceteareth-25 , PEG 7 glycerl cocoate, and PEG 40 hydrogenated castor oil. What I keep coming across is that the ceteareth-25 could potentially contain a carcinogen 1,4 dioxane and ethylene oxide. The PEG ingredients could potentially contain the carcinogen ethylene oxide so I’m just a bit confused as to how I will know if these ingredients contain those harmful substances or or not and if any of this info is true. I know you can’t believe everything on the internet so I need a little help with this one. I would like to create a product for the public but not expose anyone to anything harmful. Any alternatives that are just as good? Thanks

Newtoformulating replied 4 years, 3 months ago 4 Members · 9 Replies
9 Replies

OldPerry

Member
February 17, 2020 at 11:04 pm

Have you investigated the ingredients on the CIR database?
https://www.cir-safety.org/ingredients

For the non-technical see what the FDA says about 1,4 Dioxane in cosmetic ingredients.
https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/potential-contaminants-cosmetics/14-dioxane-cosmetics-manufacturing-byproduct

The EU regulators have also looked at the subject and concluded similarly. The bottom line is that if you use these products at the recommended maximum levels that the CIR suggests, they are perfectly safe to use.
Newtoformulating

Member
February 18, 2020 at 1:45 am

@Perry I have not researched those sites, I just did the best research I could on Google. I know that’s not the best but that was all I had😔 but I appreciate that and I will definitely look into that and I really appreciate your input. I will be using them within the recommended levels so I think it will be fine. Thanks for taking the time to assist me! 🙂
Fekher

Member
February 18, 2020 at 5:46 am

Thanks @Perry for interesting links.
ngarayeva001

Member
February 18, 2020 at 12:30 pm

Never rely on google for scientific research. Whatever ingredient you are going to search the first three links would read “10 toxic ingredients that you should avoid in skincare”. Those links would take you to questionable resources, such as guardian, to nonsensical articles written by dilettantes with no scientific background whatsoever (but who probably would have other “important” credentials such as being a feminist campaigner) who would be throwing wrongly spelt INCIs at you and calling perfectly safe ingredients “dirty” whatever it means in their delusional mind. The skincare market is highly regulated. PEGs are safe. Silicones are not only safe but environmentally friendly (with minor caveats), mineral oil and petrolatum are great skin ingredients as long as they are properly refined (just check if those are ok for cosmetic use). Parabens are safe too. Do you know what isn’t safe? “Natural-wonderful-healing-soothing” essential oils.
Newtoformulating

Member
February 18, 2020 at 1:31 pm

@ngarayeva001 you are so right and I should have known better than to research on Google but that’s usually the first thing that everyone does but I know I am in a safe place on this forum to ask questions and get some guidance during my formulating process. Thanks for taking the time to answer my question. 🙂
OldPerry

Member
February 18, 2020 at 2:22 pm

For ingredient safety the legitimate, science-based sources are

https://www.cir-safety.org/ingredients
https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics
https://cosmeticsinfo.org/
https://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/consumer_safety_en
https://www.thefactsabout.co.uk/

Unfortunately, these things aren’t quite as user friendly & clearly written as things you stumble on Google. They are however, more accurate.
Newtoformulating

Member
February 18, 2020 at 2:42 pm

@Perry ok. Thanks so much. That info will help a great deal!
ngarayeva001

Member
February 18, 2020 at 8:56 pm

I really like this site https://incidecoder.com/
Please ignore their comments on how good or bad is the ingredient. I am sure they mean well but unfortunately, it’s not as simple as calling an ingredient “goody” or “icky”. Other than that they often provide great easy to understand descriptions (and sometimes even brand names of the INCI). They also show in which commercial products ingredient is found which I believe is very helpful in analysing how it’s used.
Newtoformulating

Member
February 18, 2020 at 10:09 pm

@ngarayeva001 I will definitely take a look at this also. Thanks for your time!😊