Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polypropylene glycol (PPG) are not only controversial in cosmetics due to their skin irritating characteristics, but also because they can also be derived from toxic, cancer-causing materials such as petroleum derivatives such as ethylene oxide, which can create war gasses (see also "sodium layrl sulphate") In this group belong as well the cetearethes, for example cetearethe-20, ceterin and cetoreth, PEG ceterin and PPG ceterin. Polyethylenglycol and PEG-derivatives can make the skin more permeable and release hazardous materials into the body. The so-called ethoxidation is particularly critically judged, which are classified in the polytethylene glycol group chemically as an alcohol. PEG's are therefore water-soluble and dispersable in water, apply however as not well tolerated by the skin. With ethoxidation, hydrophobic (water-insoluble) materials are made hydrophilic (water-soluble) through the adding of polyethylene oxide chains, and become emulsion agents. Natural cosmetics refuse to use all ethoxidized surfactants and basic washing materials. There are natural emulsifiers such as lecithin, which are better tolerated by the environment than PEG and PPG and their derivatives. For example the amino sugars glucamine, lauroyl sacosinate and lauryl glucoside make surfactants on a carbohydrate basis with good, skin care characteristics which are in addition biologically degradable.

Under the ingredients judged to be unsatisfactory are also polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polypropylene glycol (PPG) with a few exceptions. They are not reduced in the evaluation due to health concerns, but because they can produce poisonous gasses, which have also been used in military gasses. These gasses are very reactive and extremely poisonous. The dangers are recognized and there is a substantial amount of work being done on cleaning procedures in order to manufacture PEG without free ethylene oxide. However: Also if the processes used ensure that a cosmetic ingredient is produced which is clean and is no longer dangerous, military material can be produced from the products and hard chemical procedures such as ethoxylidation can be highly explosive which can only be done with the observance of strict safety measures.

As a water-soluble, non-oily substance, polyethylene glycol appropriate for many cosmetic purposes. The liquid PEG's serve as glycerol sets in face, razor and hair lotions, as solution media and solution conveyor for ingredients, perfumed oils and dyes, as moisture–containing material which contains high amounts of PEG's as bases for crèmes and salves, as consistency regulator, binder, for hair cures, as softener and fixer above all a polywax above all for lipstick.

PEG in cosmetics Polyethylene glycols can be used in the following cosmetic preparations: Creams and lotions, perfumes, deodorants, insect repellents, lipsticks, toothpastes, hair care products, teeth cleaning tablets, bath additives, Lubrastrips Polyethylene glycol is usually listed with a number in the list of ingredients (for example, PEG-8 in Autan). In cosmetic products PEG has a penetration-enhancing effect which means that the skin becomes more permeable for active agents but also for possible toxins which then can more easily penetrate into the body. That is why the use of PEG in cosmetics is still controversially discussed.