PEG (polyethylene glycol)
On the label: Polyethylene Glycol · Solvent
What it is
A family of polymers listed with a number (PEG-8, PEG-400) for their size; humectants, solvents and emulsifier backbones. 'PEG-free' is a formulation choice, not a safety finding by regulators.
Solvents: Solvents dissolve the other ingredients; water is the commonest, followed by alcohols and glycols.
Wikidata: Polymer. Q410083 →
In the research
2,405 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- Widely disseminated necrotizing infection and refractory septic shock with hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae: A case report · Journal of the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada, 2026
- Dual drug delivery via integrin-targeted nanoparticles enhances therapeutic efficiency in BRAFV600E colon cancer · Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Socie, 2026
- Formulation and biological evaluation of a bacterial nanocellulose-based nanoemulsion hydrogel loaded with Persea americana Mill. seed extract: An anti-aging assessment · PloS one, 2026
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on cells or mice says little about a cream on a face.
Products whose label lists it
1 on the siteMatched from the ingredient list the supplier printed; the position in the list (first or thirtieth) is on each product page.
Other solvents
Dew & Balm describes ingredients from the public record and makes no claim about what a product will do for you. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA. If a product causes a reaction, stop using it; a reaction that spreads or affects breathing is a call to a doctor or 911.