How we scored it
Where it comes from
Made by ethoxylating oleochemical behenyl (docosyl) alcohol with ethylene oxide to an average of 15 mol EO. Ethylene oxide is a petrochemical feedstock; no natural ethoxylation route exists.
In plain English
An emulsifier made by reacting behenyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol from vegetable oil, with ethylene oxide, a petroleum-derived chemical, to help oil and water blend in creams and lotions.
CosIng definition: Docosanol, ethoxylated, 15 mol EO (average molar ratio)
Natural alternatives with the same function
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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.
- 2BEHENETH-15. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3BEHENETH-15. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=BEHENETH-15