Database/Viscosity Controlling/Acrylates/Ceteth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Acrylates/Ceteth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer natural?

Mostly not. The acrylate/methacrylate backbone and the ethylene oxide chain are petrochemical; only the small cetyl alcohol portion of the side chain is natural.

INCI nameAcrylates/Ceteth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer
FunctionViscosity Controlling
FeedstockA synthetic acrylic acid/methacrylic acid copolymer backbone carries…

How we scored it

Assume ~95 mol% acrylic/methacrylic acid backbone (petrochemical) + ~5 mol% Ceteth-20 methacrylate macromonomer (cetyl alcohol 242 Da natural + methacrylic acid + 20 EO, petrochemical); natural ~1212/total ~13647 = 0.09
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

A synthetic acrylic acid/methacrylic acid copolymer backbone carries a minor cetyl alcohol-ethoxylate side chain (Ceteth-20) esterified with methacrylic acid.

In plain English

A thickening polymer built mostly from synthetic acrylic acid units, with a small amount of a cetyl alcohol/ethylene oxide side chain attached. Used to thicken lotions and creams.

CosIng definition: Copolymer formed from the half ester of methacrylic acid and poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl),.alpha.-hexadecyl-.omega.-hydroxy-, and one or more monomers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or one of their simple esters

Natural alternatives with the same function

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