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Ingredient register

Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs)

Note Impurity contamination Cosmetics and personal care

Decode Label notes Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs) for information in cosmetics and personal care (impurity contamination). It appears in 31 of the 912 published products we have analysed (3.4%).

The concern

Ethoxylated ingredient - quality depends on removal of manufacturing impurities

PEG ingredients are made by ethoxylation, which can leave traces of ethylene oxide (IARC Group 1) and 1,4-dioxane (IARC Group 2B) unless removed. Good manufacturing removes them, so the ingredient itself is not a hazard, but the label cannot tell you whether it was done well. PEGs should not be applied to broken skin.

Most relevant to

People with sensitive skin

Cited authority

IARC Monographs Vol. 100F (ethylene oxide) and Vol. 71 (1,4-dioxane); Cosmetic Ingredient Review

How common it is in this catalogue

Measured across every product Decode Label has analysed — not estimated, and not taken from anyone else's dataset.

31 of 912 published products 3.4%

By category

Skincare 8
Baby & Kids 8
Oral Care 7
Haircare 4
Bath & Body 2
Food 2

Identity

Also appears on labels as

PEG- Polyethylene Glycol Polyoxyethylene

Questions

Is Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs) safe?

The concern is cited to IARC Monographs Vol. 100F (ethylene oxide) and Vol. 71 (1,4-dioxane); Cosmetic Ingredient Review. Why it is flagged: Ethoxylated ingredient - quality depends on removal of manufacturing impurities. It appears in 31 of the 912 published products we have analysed (3.4%).

How common is Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs) in Indian packaged products?

Decode Label found Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs) in 31 of 912 published products (3.4%), most often in Skincare, Baby & Kids, Oral Care.

Who should be most careful with Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs)?

People with sensitive skin.

Products containing Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs)

31 published products, each with its own full analysis.

Absolute Detox Facial Cleanser Normal - Dry Active Kids Shiny Drops Shampoo Baby Shampoo Baby Shampoo with Aloe & Vitamin B5 Baby Wash and Shampoo Milk & Rice Bajra Mix Desi Spicy Brightening Vitamin C Cleanser Cetaphil Baby Mild Cleansing Bar Colgate Max Fresh Toothpaste, Red Gel Paste with Men... Colgate MaxFresh Breath Freshner Oral Care Toothpast... Colgate Sensitive Everyday Protection Toothpaste Colgate Visible White O2, Teeth Whitening Toothpaste DABUR Herb'L Activated Charcoal Toothpaste 240G Dabur Vatika Anti Dandruff Shampoo Dove Serum Bar | with Sandalwood Oil Ever White Foaming Face Wash Foaming Cleanser Foaming Cleanser For Normal to Oily Skin KT Kids Peppa Pig Body Lotion Loreal Paris Glycolic Gloss Shampoo Moisturising Cream Dry to Normal, Sensitive Skin Nourishing Milk & Rice Baby Lotion STIM Spark Instant Whitening Toothpaste Santoor Classic Gentle Hand Wash with Natural goodne... Sensodyne Toothpaste Fresh Mint Shakntala Hair Cleanser Sunfeast Bounce Choco Creme Biscuits Top-To-Toe Wash and Shampoo with Aloe & Vitamin B5 Total Radiance Face Wash UV Doux Restore Moisturizer For Dry, Sensitive & Fla... baby top-to-toe bath

Method and limits

  • Prevalence counts published products whose decoded ingredient list matches this substance or one of its label synonyms, using the same matching the score itself uses. It describes our catalogue of 912 products, not the Indian market as a whole.
  • Presence is not dose. An ingredient list gives order, not quantity, unless the pack declares a percentage. Nothing here estimates how much of this substance any product contains.
  • A classification is not a verdict on a product. An agency classifies a substance under defined conditions of exposure; whether that matters in a given food or cosmetic depends on route, concentration and use.
  • No regulatory rows. This substance is not matched in our regulatory warehouse, so the concern above rests on the cited authority alone.
  • Last updated. This register entry was last changed on 3 November 2026.
  • Corrections. Every figure here is reproducible from the sources named. If something is wrong, tell us and we will correct it and say what changed.