Polyglide™, PEG, and Alternatives for Lubricant Gel Formulation

Question

Hello,
Is [url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%82%E0%B8%99-depilatory/1240-polyglide-%E0%B9%83%E0%B8%AB%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%9C%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%9C%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B7%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%99.html:99sg4pia]Polyglide™[/url:99sg4pia] the same as [url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%9A%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B7%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%84%E0%B9%8C/731-polyethylene-glycol-peg4000.html:99sg4pia]Polyethylene Glycol[/url:99sg4pia]? What is the PEG number for [url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%82%E0%B8%99-depilatory/1240-polyglide-%E0%B9%83%E0%B8%AB%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%9C%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B7%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%99.html:99sg4pia]Polyglide™[/url:99sg4pia]? If [url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%82%E0%B8%99-depilatory/1240-polyglide-%E0%B9%83%E0%B8%AB%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%9C%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B7%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%99.html:99sg4pia]Polyglide™[/url:99sg4pia] is unavailable or out of stock, can I use [url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%9A%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B7%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%84%E0%B9%8C/730-polyethylene-glycol-peg1500.html:99sg4pia]Polyethylene Glycol 1500 (PEG1500)[/url:99sg4pia], [url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%9A%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%84%E0%B9%8C/731-polyethylene-glycol-peg4000.html:99sg4pia]Polyethylene Glycol 4000 (PEG4000)[/url:99sg4pia], [url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%9A%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B7%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%84%E0%B9%8C/731-polyethylene-glycol-peg4000.html:99sg4pia]Polyethylene Glycol[/url:99sg4pia] 200 (PEG-4), or [url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%9A%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B7%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%84%E0%B9%8C/731-polyethylene-glycol-peg4000.html:99sg4pia]Polyethylene Glycol[/url:99sg4pia] 800 (PEG-16) as substitutes for making a lubricant gel, and are there any dangers in doing so? Or could you recommend other non-hazardous lubricating agents similar to this ingredient?

MySkinRecipes Expert · Accepted Answer

Polyglide™ and Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)

Yes, Polyglide™ is a type of high molecular weight Polyethylene Glycol, also known as Polyethylene Oxide. Its INCI name is PEG-14M, indicating a very high molecular weight (around 14 million).

Substitutes for Polyglide™ in Lubricant Gel

Polyglide™ is used to create a slippery texture, particularly in water-based formulations. When considering substitutes from the Polyethylene Glycol family:

Lower molecular weight PEGs like Polyethylene Glycol 200 (PEG-4), Polyethylene Glycol 400 (PEG-8), Polyethylene Glycol 1500, Polyethylene Glycol 4000, and Polyethylene Glycol 800 (PEG-16) are primarily used as solvents, carriers, or humectants. They are liquids or low-melting solids and will not provide the same thickening and slippery texture as high molecular weight PEG-14M. Therefore, they are generally not suitable direct substitutes for the function of Polyglide™ in creating a lubricating gel texture.
Higher molecular weight PEGs/Polyethylene Oxides such as PEG-23M and PEG-45M are specifically described for their ability to modify texture and provide a slippery feel in water-based systems. These would be more appropriate substitutes within the PEG family for achieving a similar lubricating gel texture.

Safety of PEGs

Polyethylene Glycols are widely used in cosmetics and are generally considered safe. The safety profile can vary slightly depending on the molecular weight and purity, but cosmetic grade PEGs are suitable for topical applications. For lubricant gels, especially those for sensitive areas, using high-purity ingredients is always recommended.

Alternative Lubricating Ingredients

If Polyglide™ or similar high molecular weight PEGs are not available, other ingredients can be used to create a lubricating gel texture, depending on your formulation base (water or oil). Some examples of ingredients that can provide slip and gel properties include:

Polyacrylate-21: A water-based polymer that provides gloss and flexibility, suitable for creating gels.
Carbomers (e.g., Carbomer U21, Carbomer U20): These are common gelling agents used in water-based formulations to create clear gels with varying textures.
Other Gel Makers: Ingredients like ThixoGel™ or AnyGel™ are designed to create gel textures. WaterSil™ 8/12 is noted as a water gel detackifier, which can improve the feel of water-based gels.

The best alternative depends on the specific properties you need in your lubricant gel (e.g., viscosity, feel, compatibility with other ingredients).