What does PEG free actually mean?

You have certainly noticed that in the descriptions of some products we state that they are PEG free. PEG is an abbreviation for polyethylene glycols – petroleum-based compounds used in cosmetic products and personal care products, where they function as a solvent, emollient, humectant or thickener. 

However, these are synthetic compounds that are produced using ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane. These substances are considered to be human carcinogens, which in practice means that they can damage the human nervous system, increase skin ageing, have a penetration effect, which means that undesirable components can more easily penetrate deep into the skin (PEGs are not always pure, but are often contaminated with a number of toxic impurities, often also with traces of heavy metals).

At the same time, 1,4-dioxane is also an environmental toxin. The abbreviation PEG is usually followed by a number (for example PEG-4, PEG-7, PEG-100), which indicates how many units of polyethylene glycol it contains (the lower the number, the more easily it is absorbed into the skin).

PEG compounds therefore cause irritation, hypersensitivity and damage to the skin, but a lot also depends on the condition of your skin. At the same time, there are brands on the market which do use PEG compounds in their products, but are responsible enough to purify them from undesirable components.