Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/Isoceteth-20
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Isoceteth-20 natural?

Mostly not. The branched C16 fatty alcohol is natural; the 20 ethylene-oxide units making up most of the mass are petrochemical.

INCI nameIsoceteth-20
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant · Cleansing Surfactant
FeedstockIsocetyl alcohol, a branched fatty alcohol from natural…

How we scored it

Isocetyl alcohol (C16 branched oleochemical, natural) 242 + 20x ethylene oxide (petrochemical) 881 -> 242/1123 = 0.22
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

Where it comes from

Isocetyl alcohol, a branched fatty alcohol from natural oleochemical feedstock, is reacted with 20 units of petrochemical ethylene oxide. The ethoxylate chain dominates the final molecular weight.

In plain English

An emulsifier used in creams and lotions to blend oil and water. Its fatty portion comes from natural oils, but most of its weight is a synthetic ethylene oxide chain.

CosIng definition: Alcohols, C16-branched, ethoxylated (20 mol EO average molar ratio)

Natural alternatives with the same function

Arachidic Acid 100% natural origin

A waxy fatty acid from peanut and other vegetable oils, used to thicken formulas and give creams and…

 Arachidyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A gentle, sugar-based emulsifier used in creams and lotions to stabilize formulas without harsh surfactants. It's made from…

 Behenic Acid 100% natural origin

A long-chain fatty acid from vegetable oil, used to thicken and stabilise creams and conditioners. It is extracted…

 C10-16 Alkyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A mild, sugar-based cleansing and emulsifying surfactant made by combining plant-derived fatty alcohols (coconut/palm) with glucose from starch.…

 C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A mild, sugar-based cleansing ingredient made from coconut or palm fatty alcohols and glucose; helps cleanse skin and…

 C18-36 Acid 100% natural origin

A blend of long-chain plant fatty acids used as a mild cleanser and thickener, giving body and a…

References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 2ISOCETETH-20. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3ISOCETETH-20. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ISOCETETH-20