Sodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate

Sodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate is a mild anionic surfactant/cleansing agent derived from olive oil and PEG, typically used at low-to-moderate levels in rinse-off cleansers to improve mildness and solubilization. While generally well-tolerated compared with harsher sulfates, surfactants can still disrupt barrier lipids and trigger stinging or eczema flares in highly reactive skin, especially with frequent use or in leave-on residues. Given its usual role and the known irritancy potential of cleansing agents as a class, it fits a “gentle” but not “very gentle” risk profile. Safety Notes: Sodium PEG-7 Olive Oil Carboxylate is used primarily as a mild anionic surfactant/solubilizer in rinse-off cleansing formats; in commercial products it is often present at low levels (~0.1–1%) as a co-surfactant/foam modifier or solubilizer in micellar waters, facial cleansers, and shower products. At the high end, specialty “sulfate-free” and oil-derived surfactant systems (cleansing gels, baby washes, intimate washes, and some shampoo/body wash concentrates) can use it as a primary surfactant or major component of the surfactant blend, reaching ~10–20% active in finished OTC products depending on the supplied raw material concentration. Leave-on use is comparatively uncommon and typically remains at the low end due to surfactant-related irritation potential, while rinse-off products account for the upper range.