How we scored it
C18 hydroxy fatty acid entirely from castor oil hydrolysis; all atoms natural. 1.0.
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
Obtained by hydrolysing castor oil (Ricinus communis seeds), which is roughly 90% ricinoleic-acid triglyceride. There is no significant petrochemical production route.
In plain English
A fatty acid from castor oil used as a cleansing and emollient ingredient in soaps and skincare. It helps products foam, condition skin, and act as a mild surfactant.
Structure
(Z,12R)-12-hydroxyoctadec-9-enoic acid
References
- 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.
- 2Ricinoleic Acid. PubChem CID 643684. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
- 3RICINOLEIC ACID. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 4RICINOLEIC ACID. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=RICINOLEIC%20ACID