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PEG-8

What PEG-8 is & what it does

PEG-8 is a polyethylene glycol, a water-soluble ingredient that acts as an emulsifier, solvent and humectant in a formula. It helps blend oil and water, dissolves other ingredients so they spread evenly, and draws in a little moisture, giving sunscreens a smoother, more uniform feel. It works in the formula rather than on the skin, and is used in small amounts.

What is PEG-8 and what does it do in sunscreen?

PEG-8 is a polyethylene glycol, a water-soluble ingredient that mainly helps blend oil and water and dissolve other ingredients evenly. In a sunscreen it acts as an emulsifier and solvent, keeping the formula smooth, uniform and stable. It also has a mild humectant effect, drawing in a little moisture. It does not provide sun protection itself.

Is PEG-8 safe?

Yes. PEGs like PEG-8 are widely used and reviewed as safe in cosmetics at the levels found in skincare. The one caveat experts raise is not the molecule itself but trace 1,4-dioxane, a by-product of the manufacturing process that reputable makers purify out. That is a contaminant question, not a property of the ingredient, and it is well tolerated for most people.

Does PEG-8 clog pores?

No. PEG-8 is a lightweight, water-soluble ingredient rather than a heavy oil or wax, so it is considered non-comedogenic. It is used in small amounts as an emulsifier and solvent, making it an unlikely cause of breakouts. The richer oils and emollients elsewhere in a formula are far more likely culprits.

Is PEG-8 a preservative?

No. PEG-8 is an emulsifier, solvent and mild humectant, not a preservative, so it does nothing to stop microbes growing. The preserving in a sunscreen is handled by ingredients like phenoxyethanol, the glycols or ethylhexylglycerin. PEG-8 is only there to help blend and dissolve the formula.

Is PEG-8 natural?

No, it is synthetic. PEG-8 is made by joining ethylene oxide units in a lab, a man-made process, so it is not found in nature. Synthetic here simply describes how it is produced; it does not mean it is unsafe, and PEGs are among the more common, well-tolerated formula helpers.

Sunscreens with PEG-8

We rate 174 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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