caution
PEGs
Also known as: polyethylene glycol, PEG-8, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil
Petroleum-derived polymers used as humectants or solubilizers; clean shoppers often skip them.
01. What it is
What it is
A family of polyethylene glycol compounds with varying molecular weights.
02. Why it’s used
Why it’s used
Texture, moisture, and dissolving flavor oils.
03. The concern
The concern
Contamination worries (1,4-dioxane) in poorly purified PEGs and a general preference for simpler humectants.
04. Our take
Our take
Caution, not automatic panic. Many excellent pastes avoid PEGs entirely, so you can choose those if this is on your list.
05. Found in
Brands we reviewed
None of the currently ranked pastes are tagged with this glossary entry.
No ranked brands listed.
06. Sources
Further reading
Third-party citations, not studies we ran.