A glycerol polyether with ethylene oxide and propylene oxide units, used as a surfactant and solvent.
What it is
PPG-24-glycereth-24 is a polyether built on glycerol, with an average of 24 propylene oxide and 24 ethylene oxide units. CosIng lists it as an emulsifying and cleansing surfactant and as a solvent.
Where it is used
Appears on the ingredient lists of a small number of products.
Limits of interpretation
The INCI list shows which ingredients are present, not how much of each. Above 1%, ingredients are listed in descending order of weight; below 1% the order is free.
The numbers 24 are averages, so the raw material is a mixture of molecules of different sizes.
Functions
- Surfactant – emulsifying
- Helping suspensions or dispersions of liquids in a second liquid by reducing the surface tension of the substances to be emulsified.
- Solvent
- Dissolving other components of cosmetics. Solvents are usually liquids (aqueous and nonaqueous).
- Surfactant – cleansing
- Wetting body surfaces, emulsifying or solubilizing oils, and suspending soil (generally, such ingredients contribute to the foaming and lathering properties of cleansing products).
EU regulation
This ingredient is not listed in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 in the CosIng data.

