Database/Antioxidant/3-Ethylhexylglyceryl Ascorbate
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is 3-Ethylhexylglyceryl Ascorbate natural?

Mostly. Ascorbic acid from glucose and the glyceryl unit from glycerin count as natural (glyceryl-ether convention), while the 2-ethylhexyl group from oxo-process 2-ethylhexanol is petrochemical.

INCI name3-Ethylhexylglyceryl Ascorbate
FunctionAntioxidant · Humectant
FeedstockDominant route: ascorbic acid reacted at the 3-position…

How we scored it

Assumed C17H30O8 362.4: ascorbyl C6H7O6 175.1 + glyceryl ether C3H6O2 74.1 natural; ethylhexyl C8H17 113.2 petrochemical; 249.2/362.4 = 0.69.
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

Dominant route: ascorbic acid reacted at the 3-position with 2-ethylhexyl glycidyl ether (from 2-ethylhexanol and epichlorohydrin). Structure is inferred from the INCI name; no alternative route is known.

In plain English

A vitamin C derivative in which ascorbic acid carries a glycerin unit with a branched eight-carbon chain. It is used as an antioxidant and humectant. Vitamin C and glycerin come from plant sources; the eight-carbon chain is petrochemical.

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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. 23-ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERYL ASCORBATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 33-ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERYL ASCORBATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=3-ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERYL%20ASCORBATE