Ingredient · dataset v56
PEG-20 Stearate and fungal acne
May trigger · Moderate evidence
Why it's a potential trigger
Stearic acid esterified to PEG-20; same PEG-ester basis as the ruled PEG-40/PEG-100 rows.
Explicit row so nothing rides on fuzzy matching.
Evidence strength
Moderate evidence (2/3)
Function
Fatty ester
Fatty esters: split by the yeast’s enzymes into edible fats.
Products without this ingredient
- Humane Maximum-Strength Acne Wash 8 oz
- AHAVA Dead Sea Water Mineral Shower Gel 6.8 oz
- Sebamed Clear Face Cleansing Foam
- Cleure Fragrance Free Leave-In Conditioner 8 fl oz
- Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation SPF 15 In The Buff 10 g
- Trace Minerals Bentonite Clay Detox Powder 16 oz
Related fatty ester
- Ascorbyl Palmitate — May trigger · Moderate evidence
- Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate — May trigger · Moderate evidence
- Behenyl Acrylate — May trigger · Limited evidence
- Behenyl Behenate — May trigger · Limited evidence
- Bis-Octyldodecyl Dimer Dilinoleate/Propanediol Copolymer — May trigger · Moderate evidence
- Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate — No known trigger
- Butyloctyl Salicylate — May trigger · Limited evidence
- C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate — May trigger · Limited evidence
Sources
- Brunke & Hube 2006 — MfLIP1 extracellular lipase hydrolyses Tweens (Microbiology)
- Mayser et al. 1995 — ester hydrolysis depends on alcohol moiety (Acta Derm Venereol)
- EU CosIng database — search the INCI name
Last reviewed: 2026-10-13 (dataset v56).
Questions
Does PEG-20 Stearate trigger fungal acne?
We flag it as a potential trigger (moderate evidence). That means it belongs to a class the Malassezia yeast is known to feed on — not that every product with it will cause a flare. Concentration, formulation and individual skin chemistry matter.
Does PEG-20 Stearate feed Malassezia?
Yes: we flag PEG-20 Stearate as a potential trigger (moderate evidence). It belongs to a class Malassezia is known to feed on — not a claim that every product with it causes a flare. Concentration, formulation and individual skin chemistry matter.
How confident is this call?
Moderate evidence: Stearic acid esterified to PEG-20; same PEG-ester basis as the ruled PEG-40/PEG-100 rows.
Is this medical advice?
No. We screen ingredient lists; we never diagnose, treat, or certify products. When in doubt, ask a dermatologist.
Check a full list containing PEG-20 Stearate →
Not medical advice: we screen ingredient lists for potential triggers — we never diagnose, treat, or certify products. Dataset v56.