Database/Skin Conditioning/Beta-Carotene
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Beta-Carotene natural?

It depends. Carotenoid pigment either extracted from algae/plant oils or built via petrochemical synthesis.

INCI nameBeta-Carotene
CAS7235-40-7
FormulaC40H56 · 536.9 Da
FunctionSkin Conditioning
FeedstockNatural-origin beta-carotene is commonly extracted from Dunaliella salina…

Why the score varies

This ingredient is made commercially by more than one route, and ISO 16128 scores the feedstock actually used. Without a supplier certificate of origin the value cannot be claimed.

RouteFeedstockNOIShareNotes
natural extractionDunaliella salina algae, palm or carrot oil1.00significant share of cosmetic-grade supply
chemical synthesispetrochemical synthons (Wittig/Grignard routes)0.00significant share, dominant in food/feed colourant use
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Route A: extraction from algae/palm/carrot = 1.0. Route B: total chemical synthesis (Wittig-type) = 0.0.
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

Natural-origin beta-carotene is commonly extracted from Dunaliella salina algae or palm/carrot oil concentrates for cosmetic use. A synthetic petrochemical route is also commercially significant, especially for food/feed colouring.

In plain English

An orange-yellow plant pigment and antioxidant, the same one that colours carrots. Used in skincare for its antioxidant and skin-conditioning properties; it can come from algae or plants, or be made synthetically.

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Structure

2D structure of Beta-Carotene

1,3,3-trimethyl-2-[(1E,3E,5E,7E,9E,11E,13E,15E,17E)-3,7,12,16-tetramethyl-18-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexen-1-yl)octadeca-1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17-nonaenyl]cyclohexene

PubChem CID 5280489 ↗

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. 2Beta-Carotene. PubChem CID 5280489. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3BETA-CAROTENE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4BETA-CAROTENE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=BETA-CAROTENE