PEG-40 Stearate

6-12 month old babiesSkin contact product

Check for Different Age (6 available)

Can older babies use Peg 40 Stearate?

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USE WITH CAUTION
Danger Score: 4 (Lower is safer)
Quick Answer: Peg 40 Stearate use with caution for 6-12 month old babies when used in topical products. Monitor for any reactions in older babies.

ℹ️General Overview

For a 6–12 month old baby (older infant), this ingredient is commonly used and not strongly linked to serious health problems. The biggest worry is possible contamination from manufacturing chemicals. Infants can be more sensitive, so we recommend caution.

What to Do

When using products on your 6–12 month old: choose baby-formulated products from brands that test for impurities or state they are free of ethylene oxide/1,4‑dioxane; use sparingly and avoid applying to broken or irritated skin (for example, diaper rash); do a small patch test on a little area of the leg or arm and wait 24 hours to watch for redness or rash; if you prefer, pick simpler products without PEG ingredients for regular daily use.

⚠️Warnings

Watch for redness, swelling, rash, or other signs of irritation and stop use if they occur. Avoid using on broken skin. The ingredient data above flags contamination concerns with ethylene oxide and 1,4‑dioxane from manufacturing — that is the main reason to prefer products that test for or explicitly limit these impurities. Also avoid frequent, long-term application over large areas of your baby’s body if the manufacturer does not provide impurity testing information.

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

Can older babies safely use PEG-40 Stearate?

Use caution with PEG-40 Stearate for 6-12 month old babies. Some safety concerns have been identified.

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

Connected to cancer risk with long-term or repeated exposure. This is especially important for babies whose skin and systems are still developing.

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

Linked to long-term health effects after years of use or exposure. This is especially important for babies whose skin and systems are still developing.

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

Possible negative effects on the environment This is especially important for babies whose skin and systems are still developing.

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.

Is this appropriate for older babies to using products with PEG-40 Stearate?

The appropriate age depends on the specific ingredient properties and concentration. This analysis is for 6-12 month old babies. Use the age selector above to check other ages.

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