Good Cosmetic Ingredient SCCS/CIR Reviewed

Polyquaternium-18

Also known as: Poly(oxy-​1,​2-​ethanediyl)​, α,​α',​α''-​1,​2,​3-​propanetriyltris[ω-​hydroxy-, Glycols, polyethylene, 1,2,3-propanetriyl ether, Glycerol polyoxyethylene ether, Glycerol-ethylene oxide adduct, Glycerol-polyethylene glycol adduct (+13 more)

INCI: POLYQUATERNIUM-18

Polyquaternium-18 (CAS 31694-55-0) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Antistatic, Film Forming. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted; 1 safety opinion reviewed (cir). Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety data.

View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 31694-55-0 →

Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Antistatic, Film Forming
Safety Rating
GOOD

Chemistry & Identifiers

Formula
C9H20O6
MW
224.25 g/mol
EC Number
500-075-4
PubChem CID
88802
IUPAC Name
2-[2,3-bis(2-hydroxyethoxy)propoxy]ethanol
InChIKey
UCYLROVJSUACAD-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Regulatory Status

EU EU Status permitted
US US Status permitted
US Notes Not individually reviewed by CIR

For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Polyquaternium-18.

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Safety Opinions

Official safety assessments from the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR).

cir
Verdict: safe

data relating to the safety of these ingredients. The Panel concluded that these ingredients are safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration as described in this safety assessment when formulated to be non-irritating. Keywords Cosmetic Ingredient Review, Expert Panel for Cosme

ECHA REACH Registration

European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.

Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
1,000 - 10,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No

Function Categories & List Membership

Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Fragrance Humectant Plasticizer Softener and conditioner Solvent Surfactant (surface active agent) Viscosity modifier
Regulatory List Membership (3)
EU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics) IFRA Fragrance Transparency List EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)

Expert Verdict

Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Polyquaternium-18.

Regulatory Flags

eu_children_restricted epa_safer_alternative ifra_fragrance

Known Synonyms

Poly(oxy-​1,​2-​ethanediyl)​, α,​α',​α''-​1,​2,​3-​propanetriyltris[ω-​hydroxy- Glycols, polyethylene, 1,2,3-propanetriyl ether Glycerol polyoxyethylene ether Glycerol-ethylene oxide adduct Glycerol-polyethylene glycol adduct Glyceryl polyether 26 α,α',α''-1,2,3-Propanetriyltris[ω-hydroxypoly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)] α-Hydro-ω-hydroxypoly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) ether with 1,2,3-propanetriol α,α',α''-Propane-1,2,3-triyltris[ω-hydroxypoly(oxyethylene)] alkoxylation reaction product of glycerin as starter and ethylene oxyde (eo) as monomer Glycerol, ethoxylated 1,2,3-Propanetriol, ethoxylated 1,2,3-Propanetriol, polymer with oxirane Adeka Carpol TE 100 Blaunon GL 26 Botanimoist G 26 Carbowax TPEG 990 Conion RG 120

Chemical Function

Solvent Surfactant (surface active agent) Humectant Softener and conditioner Viscosity modifier

Regulatory Lists

children; Europe; Personal care children; Europe; Personal care - dental care - toothpaste CEDI SCIL (9/2019) IFRA Transparency inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides

Australian Status

AICIS status: listed

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Polyquaternium-18 safe in cosmetics?

Polyquaternium-18 has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. This ingredient has been reviewed by cir.

Is Polyquaternium-18 allowed in the EU?

Polyquaternium-18 EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Polyquaternium-18 do in cosmetics?

Polyquaternium-18 functions as: Antistatic, Film Forming. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 31694-55-0.

Is Polyquaternium-18 used outside cosmetics?

Polyquaternium-18 also appears in industrial chemical safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.

Related Ingredients

Acrylates/Vinyl Neodecanoate Crosspolymer
Excellent Same category
Emulsion stabilising, film forming
Adipic Acid
Excellent Same category
Buffering
Aluminum Magnesium Oxide
Excellent Same category
Absorbent, bulking agent, opacifying ...
Ammonium VA/Acrylates Copolymer
Excellent Same category
Antistatic, binding, film forming, ha...
Ammonium VA/Crotonic Acid Copolymer
Excellent Same category
Antistatic, film forming, hair fixing...
Aphanothece Sacrum Polysaccharide
Excellent Same category
Absorbent, emulsion stabilising, film...
(AGARICUS BLAZEI FERMENT + GANODERMA LUCIDUM FERMENT + GANODERMA MULTIPILEUM FERMENT) EXTRACT
Good Similar safety
Anti-sebum, Antioxidant, Skin Protecting
(ANGELICA ACUTILOBA/PAEONIA LACTIFLORA/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA) ROOT/CNIDIUM OFFICINALE RHIZOME EXTRACT
Good Similar safety
Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning ...
(ANGELICA ACUTILOBA/PAEONIA LACTIFLORA/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA/SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS) ROOT/(CNIDIUM OFFICINALE/COPTIS CHINENSIS) RHIZOME/GARDENIA JASMINOIDES FRUIT/PHELLODENDRON CHINENSE BARK EXTRACT
Good Similar safety
(ANGELICA GIGAS/GLYCYRRHIZA URALENSIS/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA ROOT)/ANGELICA GIGAS STEM/CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS FLOWER/(CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS/PRUNUS PERSICA SEED)PORIA COCOS WATER
Good Similar safety
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Pr...
(ANGELICA KEISKEI/CHRYSANTHEMUM ZAWADSKII) LEAF/STEM/CINNAMOMUM CASSIA BARK/TRICHOSANTES KIRILOWII FRUIT/ULMUS DAVIDIANA BARK/ROOT/(PAEONIA JAPONICA/BUPLEURUM FALCATUM/POLYGALA TENUIFOLIA ROOT)/VISCUS ALBUM STEM EXTRACT
Good Similar safety
Anti-seborrheic, Anti-sebum, Antioxid...
(APPLE/CITRUS JUNOS/LENTIL/PEAR/PUMPKIN/STRAWBERRY/TOMATO FRUIT)/CORN KERNEL/(ARCTIUM LAPPA/BRASSICA OLERACEA ACEPHALA/CABBAGE/CAMELLIA SINENSIS/MORINGA OLEIFERA/RADISH/SPINACH LEAF)/(SORGHUM BICOLOR LEAF/STEM)/OAT MEAL/POTATO PULP/(CARROT/NELUMBO NUCIFERA/RADISH/WILD YAM ROOT)/(AMARANTHUS HYPOCHONDRIACUS/CASHEW/CICER ARIETINUM/COIX LACRYMA-JOBI MA-YUEN /MACADAMIA TERNIFOLIA/PHASEOLUS ANGULARIS/PISTACIA VERA/RHYNCHOSIA NULUBILIS/RICE/SESAME/SETARIA ITALICA/SOYBEAN/SWEET ALMOND/WHEAT SEED)/HORDEUM VULGARE SPROUT/CYPERUS ESCULENTUS TUBER/ARTEMISIA PRINCEPS/BROCCOLI/CHENOPODIUM QUINOA/ENTEROMORPHA COMPRESSA/HORDEUM VULGARE/IPOMOEA BATATAS/LAMINARIA JAPONICA/LENTINUS EDODES/PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS/PORPHYRA TENERA/UNDARIA PINNATIFIDA EXTRACT
Good Similar safety
Antioxidant
Glycereth-12
Good Chemical family
Skin-conditioning agent (humectant); ...
Glycereth-18
Good Chemical family
Skin-conditioning agent (humectant)
Glycereth-20
Moderate Chemical family

Is Polyquaternium-18 in Your Products?

Scan any product label with Piro — our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.

Try Piro Free →

Analyze Your Full Ingredient List

Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for Polyquaternium-18 in your formulation.