PEG-10 Polyglyceryl-2 Laurate is a chemical compound formed by the esterification of Polyglyceryl-2 with lauric acid, followed by ethoxylation with an average of 10 moles of ethylene oxide. This compound is used in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and personal care industries for its emulsifying, moisturizing, and conditioning properties.

Chemical Composition and Structure

PEG-10 Polyglyceryl-2 Laurate is composed of Polyglyceryl-2, which is a polymer of glycerol, esterified with lauric acid, and further ethoxylated with 10 moles of ethylene oxide. The resulting structure includes both laurate ester and ethoxylated groups, creating a stable compound with amphiphilic properties.

Physical Properties

PEG-10 Polyglyceryl-2 Laurate typically appears as a clear to slightly yellow liquid or semi-solid, depending on the specific composition and processing methods used. It has a mild, neutral aroma and is soluble in water, oils, and organic solvents. The compound's structure allows it to act as an effective emulsifier, moisturizer, and conditioner, enhancing the texture and stability of cosmetic formulations.

Production Process

Synthesis of Polyglyceryl-2: Glycerol is polymerized to produce Polyglyceryl-2, a polymer containing two glycerol units.
Esterification with Lauric Acid: Polyglyceryl-2 is esterified with lauric acid to form Polyglyceryl-2 Laurate.
Ethoxylation: The Polyglyceryl-2 Laurate is then reacted with ethylene oxide in the presence of a catalyst to add an average of 10 moles of ethylene oxide, resulting in PEG-10 Polyglyceryl-2 Laurate.
Purification: The resulting compound is purified to remove any unreacted materials and by-products, ensuring a high-quality final product.
Quality Control: Rigorous quality tests are conducted to evaluate the purity, stability, and composition of the product, including chemical and microbiological analyses.

Applications

Cosmetic Products: Used in creams, lotions, and emulsions for its emulsifying and moisturizing properties, enhancing the texture and stability of the formulations.
Skin Care: Ideal for products aimed at providing moisturizing and protective benefits due to its ability to improve skin barrier function and reduce water loss.
Hair Care: Incorporated into shampoos, conditioners, and styling products for its ability to condition and moisturize the hair.
Pharmaceutical Products: Utilized in various formulations for its solubilizing and stabilizing properties, enhancing the delivery and stability of active ingredients.
Personal Care Products: Used in body washes, soaps, and other personal care items for its emulsifying and moisturizing effects.

Cosmetic Safety

PEG (Polyethylene glycol) polymerize condensed ethylene oxide and water and are referred to as polyethylene glycols, but they are actually complex chemical components, polymers bonded together. For example, plastic is polyethylene and has a hard consistency, while polyethylene aggregated with glycol forms a liquid. PEGylation is produced not only as heterification but also as transesterification, which is the transformation of an alcohol by an ester.
The number that appears after the abbreviation PEG represents the molecular weight, and the higher this number is, the less it penetrates the skin.
The term 'eth' refers to the ethoxylation reaction with ethylene oxide after which residues of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, chemical compounds considered carcinogenic, may remain. The degree of safety therefore depends on the degree of purity of the compound obtained. No manufacturer appears to provide this information on the label, at least as of the date of this review.
Kim MC, Park SY, Kwon SY, Kim YK, Kim YI, Seo YS, Cho SM, Shin EC, Mok JH, Lee YB. Application of Static Headspace GC-MS Method for Selective 1,4-Dioxane Detection in Food Additives. Foods. 2023 Sep 2;12(17):3299. doi: 10.3390/foods12173299.
Abstract. "Efficient detection methods must be developed for 1,4-dioxane due to its suspected status as a human carcinogen, which is highly mobile in food and environmental resources. In this regard, this experiment has been conducted to develop reliable and selective detection and measurement methods by using static headspace (SH) isolation, followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A new method was developed for determining the spiked 1,4-dioxane contents in a polyethylene glycol 600 (PEG 600). The optimal condition for SH-GC-MS was discussed. The representative ions of 1,4-dioxane and 1,4-dioxane-d8 in the SIM mode of MS are 88 and 96, respectively, and the peaks of the SIM mode were separated and confirmed. The linear range for the method covers 0.25 to 100 mg/L with a coefficient of determination (R2) ≥ 0.999. The method applicability was demonstrated by spike recovery across a variety of food additives (i.e., chlorine bitartrate, choline chloride, polysorbate 20 and 60, and PEG 1000). All spike recovery from the tested samples was in the range of 89.50-102.68% with a precision of 0.44-11.22%. These findings suggest a new analytical method for food safety inspection, and could be applicable for ensuring the safety of foods and environmental and public health on a broad scale."

INCI


Skin conditioning agent - Emollient. Emollients have the characteristic of enhancing the skin barrier through a source of exogenous lipids that adhere to the skin, improving barrier properties by filling gaps in intercorneocyte clusters to improve hydration while protecting against inflammation. In practice, they have the ability to create a barrier that prevents transepidermal water loss. Emollients are described as degreasing or refreshing additives that improve the lipid content of the upper layers of the skin by preventing degreasing and drying of the skin. The problem with emollients is that many have a strong lipophilic character and are identified as occlusive ingredients; they are oily and fatty materials that remain on the skin surface and reduce transepidermal water loss. In cosmetics, emollients and moisturisers are often considered synonymous with humectants and occlusives.
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