Database/Emollient/C12-13 Alkyl Lactate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is C12-13 Alkyl Lactate natural?

Mostly not. Lactic acid comes from sugar fermentation; the C12-13 alcohol is a synthetic oxo alcohol, since an odd-carbon C13 cut cannot come from coconut or palm kernel oil.

INCI nameC12-13 Alkyl Lactate
FunctionEmollient · Skin Conditioning
FeedstockFermentation lactic acid is esterified with C12-13 primary…

How we scored it

Lactoyl C3H5O2 73.1 natural (fermentation lactic acid); C12.5H26O alkoxy 192.4 from synthetic oxo alcohol, petrochemical. 73.1 / 265.4 = 0.28. An oleochemical alcohol would give 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

Fermentation lactic acid is esterified with C12-13 primary alcohols made from ethylene by olefin oligomerisation and hydroformylation (Neodol 23 type). A lauryl-range oleochemical alcohol grade, if a supplier offers one, would be natural origin (supplier note).

In plain English

An emollient ester that leaves skin feeling soft and smooth. It joins lactic acid, made by fermenting sugar, to a C12-13 fatty alcohol that is usually synthetic.

CosIng definition: Propanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, C12-13-alkyl esters

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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. 2C12-13 ALKYL LACTATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3C12-13 ALKYL LACTATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=C12-13%20ALKYL%20LACTATE