Ingredient decoder

PEG-8 stearate: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: PEG-8 Stearate

Acne verdict Moderate clog risk

Rated a pore-clogger

  • Comedogenic3 / 5
  • Irritancy1 / 5

What it does

Emulsifier that helps oil and water blend.

  • Emulsifying
  • Humectant
  • Surfactant

PEG-8 stearate in plain English

PEG-8 stearate is an emulsifier made by attaching a short PEG chain to stearic acid, helping oil and water blend. It has moderate ratings on older comedogenic lists. Its rating comes from old rabbit-ear tests of the raw ingredient, which can overstate what happens with a finished product on human skin.

Is PEG-8 stearate bad for acne?

It can be. PEG-8 stearate has a moderate clog risk rating for acne-prone skin. In Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear test it scored 3 out of 5 for clogging pores and 1 out of 5 for irritation. That test used the raw ingredient, so a small amount in a finished product may behave differently. If you break out easily, check where it sits on the ingredient list: the higher it appears, the more of it the product usually contains.

Why it is flagged: An emulsifier with moderate ratings on older lists.

Clean routine and still breaking out? The cause may be internal. See what is driving it

Also called

  • PEG-8 Stearate
  • Polyoxyl 8 stearate
  • Peg 400 stearate
  • Peg-400 stearate

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Frequently asked questions

Is PEG-8 stearate comedogenic?

PEG-8 stearate scored 3 out of 5 for comedogenicity in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear study, where 0 means no clogging and 5 means severe. That is a moderate rating. The test used the raw ingredient, so a finished product may behave differently.

What does PEG-8 stearate do in skincare?

In short: emulsifier that helps oil and water blend. In formulas it is used for emulsifying, humectant and surfactant.

What else is PEG-8 stearate called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, PEG-8 stearate can also appear as Polyoxyl 8 stearate, Peg 400 stearate or Peg-400 stearate.

Sources