How we scored it
C20 saturated fatty acid, oleochemical origin assumed for cosmetic grade (e.g. peanut/vegetable oil) = 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
Typically derived from peanut oil or other vegetable oils rich in long-chain saturated fatty acids. A minor petrochemical (Fischer-Tropsch) route exists but is not dominant in cosmetics.
In plain English
A waxy fatty acid from peanut and other vegetable oils, used to thicken formulas and give creams and lotions a smooth, stable texture.
Structure
icosanoic 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.
- 2Arachidic Acid. PubChem CID 10467. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
- 3ARACHIDIC ACID. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 4ARACHIDIC ACID. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ARACHIDIC%20ACID