PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol

PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol is a PEGylated plant sterol used mainly as an emollient/emulsifier/solubilizer, typically at low single‑digit percentages, and PEG-modified lipids are generally well tolerated in standard patch testing. While not a strong “active,” ethoxylated materials and plant-derived sterol mixtures can occasionally sting or provoke irritation in highly reactive or barrier-compromised eczema skin, especially in leave-on products. Given the low but real risk in sensitive populations and the need to err on safety, it fits a gentle (not inert) profile. Safety Notes: PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol is most commonly used as a nonionic emulsifier/solubilizer and lipid-structure aid, so it appears at very low levels (~0.05–0.3%) in many leave-on creams/lotions and some rinse-off cleansers to support emulsification and sensory feel. In richer leave-on balms, barrier creams, and anhydrous-to-emulsion systems, it can be pushed into the 1–3% range, with a small number of high-structure consumer formulations using up to ~5% as a primary/emulsion-structuring surfactant-like component. No specific EU/FDA concentration limit is typically set for this INCI beyond general cosmetic safety/impurity controls, so the upper end is mainly constrained by stability, irritation potential, and texture.