Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/PEG-12 Stearate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is PEG-12 Stearate natural?

Mostly not. Oleochemical stearic acid ester (natural) capped with a 12-unit ethylene oxide chain (petrochemical).

INCI namePEG-12 Stearate
CAS9004-99-3
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockMade by esterifying stearic acid, typically from palm…

How we scored it

Stearoyl fragment (natural) 267.5 Da + 12 EO chain (petrochemical) 545.6 Da = 813.1 Da; 267.5/813.1 = 0.33. Used CosIng's 12 EO; supplied C20H40O3/328.5 data actually matches PEG-1, not PEG-12.
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

Made by esterifying stearic acid, typically from palm or tallow, with polyethylene glycol built from petrochemical ethylene oxide. The fatty acid portion is renewable; the PEG chain is not.

In plain English

An emulsifier that blends oil and water in creams and lotions. Made from a natural fatty acid combined with a petrochemical-derived ethylene oxide chain.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxooctadecyl)-.omega.-hydroxy- (12 mol EO average molar ratio)

Natural alternatives with the same function

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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

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 C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

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 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. 2PEG-12 STEARATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3PEG-12 STEARATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PEG-12%20STEARATE