Polyethylene polymers are considered skin safe for use in cosmetics and personal care products.
Here's why polyethylene is considered safe and some further context on polymer safety for skin:
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Polyethylene Safety: The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel has evaluated polyethylene and concluded it is safe for cosmetic and personal care use.
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Molecular Size Matters: The safety assessment hinges on the large molecular size of polyethylene polymers used in these products. Due to their size, these polymers are not expected to be absorbed significantly into the skin. This limited dermal absorption is a key factor in their safety profile.
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Dermal Absorption: The primary concern with any ingredient applied to the skin is whether it can penetrate the skin barrier and potentially cause adverse effects. Because of the large molecular weight of the polyethylene polymers used in cosmetic and personal care products, the Expert Panel didn't expect significant dermal absorption.
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Other Factors Contributing to Safety Assessments: Besides molecular size and dermal absorption, regulatory bodies and expert panels consider other factors when evaluating the safety of polymers, including potential toxicity, irritation, and sensitization.
In summary, the Expert Panel concluded that polyethylene polymers, due to their large molecular size, are safe for cosmetic and personal care applications as they do not get absorbed into the skin.
