PEG-40 Stearate

5+ year old children • Skin contact product

Check for Different Age (6 available)

Is this kid-friendly to use Peg 40 Stearate?

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YES - Generally Safe

Danger Score: 2 (Lower is safer)

Quick Answer: Peg 40 Stearate is generally considered safe for 5+ year old children when used in topical products. Kids may have different tolerance levels.

ℹ️General Overview

For kids aged 5 and up, PEG-40 Stearate is commonly used in skin products and is usually low risk when used on normal, unbroken skin. The biggest worry is possible contamination during manufacturing with impurities such as ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane.

✅What to Do

When using products for your child, look for brands that test for manufacturing contaminants or say they avoid ethylene oxide/1,4-dioxane. Apply products with this ingredient only to intact skin, avoid the eye and mouth area, and do a patch test on a small area (inner forearm) and wait 24 hours before regular use. If your child has sensitive skin or a history of reactions, choose products formulated for sensitive skin or those that avoid PEG ingredients.

⚠️Warnings

Stop use and talk to your pediatrician if you see redness, swelling, blisters, or any new rash after using a product containing this ingredient. Avoid using on cuts, sores, or inflamed skin. The contamination concerns (ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane) come from manufacturing and safety reviews such as the Cosmetic Ingredient Review and environmental/regulatory reviews (for example, Environment Canada); some product verification programs restrict or require extra testing for this ingredient because of those risks.

Confidence: MEDIUM

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Safety Risk Labels

This ingredient has the following documented risks:

Cancer: This ingredient can carry high contamination by ethylene oxide and 1,4‑dioxane. Those contaminants are known to be linked to cancer and were specifically flagged as a contamination concern in the ingredient review. The cosmetic industry safety review notes gaps in testing and limits that rely on how the ingredient is made, which raises real cancer-related worry from these impurities (source: Cosmetic Ingredient Review and regulator findings).

Long-Term Risk: Because of the contamination concern with ethylene oxide and 1,4‑dioxane and noted gaps in safety assessments, there is a potential for health effects that show up after repeated or long-term exposure. The industry safety review called out data gaps and testing limits that make long-term risk harder to rule out (source: Cosmetic Ingredient Review).

Environmental: Government review flagged this substance as suspected to be harmful to the environment. That means using products with this ingredient could have negative effects beyond the person applying them (source: Environment Canada).

Tap or hover over labels to see detailed risk information.

Alternative Names for PEG-40 Stearate

This ingredient may also be listed as:

peg 40 stearatepeg-40 stearate4310-EP2270004A14310-EP2305647A1S-1514310-EP2295503A14310-EP2301544A14310-EP2298735A14310-EP2272827A1POLY(OXY-1, 2-ETHANEDIYL), .ALPHA.-HYDRO-.OMEGA.-HYDROXY-, OCTADECANOATE4310-EP2275413A14310-EP2272832A1

Always check ingredient labels carefully, as ingredients may be listed under different names.

Products Containing PEG-40 Stearate

This ingredient is found in the following products:

This list shows products that contain PEG-40 Stearate or its alternative names.

Common Questions About PEG-40 Stearate

Is this kid-friendly to use PEG-40 Stearate?

Yes, PEG-40 Stearate is generally considered safe for 5+ year old children based on current research.

What are the cancer risks of PEG-40 Stearate for children?

Connected to cancer risk with long-term or repeated exposure.

What are the long-term risk risks of PEG-40 Stearate for children?

Linked to long-term health effects after years of use or exposure.

What are the environmental risks of PEG-40 Stearate for children?

Possible negative effects on the environment

What products contain PEG-40 Stearate?

PEG-40 Stearate is commonly found in skincare products, cosmetics, and topical applications. Always check ingredient labels before use.

When can kids start using products with PEG-40 Stearate?

The appropriate age depends on the specific ingredient properties and concentration. This analysis is for 5+ year old children. Use the age selector above to check other ages.

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