Database/Opacifying/Behenamide
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Behenamide natural?

Mostly. Behenic acid from vegetable oil supplies almost all the mass; the amide nitrogen traces to natural-gas-derived ammonia.

INCI nameBehenamide
CAS3061-75-4
FormulaC22H45NO · 339.6 Da
FunctionOpacifying · Viscosity Controlling
FeedstockMade by reacting behenic acid from vegetable oils…

How we scored it

Behenic acid acyl fragment C22H43O 323.6 Da (natural, vegetable oil) + NH2 from ammonia (petrochemical, natural-gas route) 16 Da; 323.6/339.6 = 0.95.
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

Made by reacting behenic acid from vegetable oils (e.g. rapeseed) with ammonia derived from natural gas. The long fatty chain dominates the molecule's mass.

In plain English

Made by reacting behenic acid, a fatty acid from vegetable oil, with ammonia. Used to add opacity and control thickness in creams and lotions.

Natural alternatives with the same function

Aluminum Behenate 100% natural origin

The aluminium salt of behenic acid, a fatty acid from rapeseed or similar seed oils. Used in small…

 Aluminum Distearate 100% natural origin

An aluminium salt of stearic acid, a fatty acid from vegetable oil or animal fat. Used in powders…

 Aluminum Hydroxide 100% natural origin

A mineral compound of aluminium and hydroxide. Used in skincare as a texture-improving and opacifying agent.

 Aluminum Isostearates/Laurates/Stearates 100% natural origin

A mixed aluminium soap of isostearic, lauric and stearic fatty acids. It thickens oils, stops powders from caking,…

 Aluminum Tristearate 100% natural origin

An aluminium salt made from stearic acid, a fatty acid from vegetable oil or animal fat. Used in…

 Aluminum Zinc Oxide 100% natural origin

A white mineral powder made from zinc and aluminium oxides. It adds opacity, bulk and absorbency to powders…

Structure

2D structure of Behenamide

docosanamide

PubChem CID 76468 ↗

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. 2Behenamide. PubChem CID 76468. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3BEHENAMIDE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4BEHENAMIDE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=BEHENAMIDE