Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate

Polyglyceryl-6 polyricinoleate is a nonionic emulsifier/surfactant typically used at low levels (about 0.5–5%) in leave-on and rinse-off products, and it is generally well-tolerated with low irritancy in standard patch testing for surfactant-type ingredients. However, as a ricinoleic acid (castor oil–derived) ester, it can still provoke irritation in highly reactive or eczematous skin—especially on compromised barriers or in formulas containing other surfactants—so I score it as gentle rather than very gentle for patient safety. Safety Notes: Polyglyceryl-6 polyricinoleate (PGPR) is a low-HLB W/O emulsifier and pigment wetting/dispersing aid, and in many consumer skincare/makeup emulsions it appears at trace-to-low levels (~0.05–1%) to stabilize W/O systems or improve payoff in color cosmetics/cleansing balms. In anhydrous oil-based products (cleansing oils, makeup removers, balm-to-oil cleansers) and high-pigment foundations/concealers available OTC, it is used at much higher levels (commonly ~2–10%) and can reach ~15–20% in specialty/high-load systems where it is a primary structuring emulsifier for water droplets and/or to wet large pigment loads. No specific global cosmetic concentration limit is typically set for PGPR itself, so the practical maximum is driven by sensorial/viscosity constraints and the stability needs of W/O or anhydrous formulations rather than regulation.