How we scored it
Where it comes from
A polyester resin built from petrochemical adipic acid, neopentyl glycol and trimellitic anhydride, used as a film-former in nail products. A small-scale bio-based adipic acid route exists but is not the dominant commercial source.
In plain English
A synthetic resin used in nail polish to form a hard, glossy film, made entirely from petroleum-derived building blocks.
CosIng definition: Hexanedioic acid, polymer with 1,3-dihydro-1,3-dioxo-5-isobenzofurancarboxylic acid and 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol
Natural alternatives with the same function
A sticky resin tapped from balsam fir trees, used for its piney scent and to form a thin…
Acacia Senegal Gum 100% natural originThe dried gum exuded from the acacia tree, collected by tapping the bark. Used to form a film…
Albumen 100% natural originEgg white. Used in cosmetics to form a film on skin or hair and to help condition them.
Amorphophallus Konjac Root Extract 100% natural originA root extract from the konjac plant that helps form a light film on skin and hair and…
Astragalus Gummifer Gum 100% natural originA natural plant gum, known as tragacanth, harvested from a Middle Eastern shrub. Used as a thickener and…
Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment Extract 100% natural originAn extract of the liquid left after the yeast-like fungus Aureobasidium pullulans is grown on sugars in a…
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.
- 2ADIPIC ACID/NEOPENTYL GLYCOL/TRIMELLITIC ANHYDRIDE COPOLYMER. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3ADIPIC ACID/NEOPENTYL GLYCOL/TRIMELLITIC ANHYDRIDE COPOLYMER. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ADIPIC%20ACID/NEOPENTYL%20GLYCOL/TRIMELLITIC%20ANHYDRIDE%20COPOLYMER