Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/Sorbitan Isostearate
100% natural origin · ISO 16128

Is Sorbitan Isostearate natural?

Yes. Sorbitan from sorbitol and isostearic acid from isomerized natural fatty acids are both natural-origin.

INCI nameSorbitan Isostearate
CAS71902-01-7
FormulaC24H46O6 · 430.6 Da
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockMade from sorbitol-derived sorbitan esterified with isostearic acid,…

How we scored it

Sorbitan (from sorbitol, natural) esterified with isostearic acid (branched fatty acid from oleochemical isomerization, natural); catalyst leaves no mass -> 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.

How it’s made

Acid-catalysed ring closure of sorbitol (intramolecular SN2). Sorbitan is the ring at the core of every sorbitan ester and polysorbate. Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the scores for the whole family.

Where it comes from

Made from sorbitol-derived sorbitan esterified with isostearic acid, a branched fatty acid produced by catalytic isomerization of natural oleic acid. The catalyst contributes no mass to the product.

In plain English

An emulsifier used in creams and cosmetics to blend oil and water. It comes from sorbitol (a plant sugar) and a branched fatty acid derived from vegetable oil.

CosIng definition: Sorbitan, isooctadecanoate

Structure

2D structure of Sorbitan Isostearate

[(2R)-2-[(2R,3R,4S)-3,4-dihydroxyoxolan-2-yl]-2-hydroxyethyl] 16-methylheptadecanoate

PubChem CID 91886584 ↗

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. 2Sorbitan Isostearate. PubChem CID 91886584. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=SORBITAN%20ISOSTEARATE