Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/C12-13 Pareth-5
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is C12-13 Pareth-5 natural?

No. The C12-13 alcohol is an odd-and-even-carbon blend made from petrochemical olefins or paraffins, not a coconut or palm fatty alcohol, so neither the alcohol nor the ethylene-oxide chain counts as natural. Same ruling as C12-15 Alcohols and the C12-15 Pareths.

INCI nameC12-13 Pareth-5
CAS66455-14-9
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant · Cleansing Surfactant
FeedstockPetrochemical C12-13 alcohols ethoxylated with about 5 units…

How we scored it

C12-13 oxo alcohols from petrochemical olefins + 5 EO (5×44.05 = 220.3 Da, petrochemical ethylene oxide) → 0/total = 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

Petrochemical C12-13 alcohols ethoxylated with about 5 units of ethylene oxide.

In plain English

A cleansing and emulsifying ingredient made by reacting a coconut- or palm-derived fatty alcohol with ethylene oxide, helping formulas blend oil and water.

CosIng definition: Alcohols, C12-13, ethoxylated (5 mol EO average molar ratio)

Natural alternatives with the same function

Arachidic Acid 100% natural origin

A waxy fatty acid from peanut and other vegetable oils, used to thicken formulas and give creams and…

 Arachidyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A gentle, sugar-based emulsifier used in creams and lotions to stabilize formulas without harsh surfactants. It's made from…

 Behenic Acid 100% natural origin

A long-chain fatty acid from vegetable oil, used to thicken and stabilise creams and conditioners. It is extracted…

 C10-16 Alkyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A mild, sugar-based cleansing and emulsifying surfactant made by combining plant-derived fatty alcohols (coconut/palm) with glucose from starch.…

 C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A mild, sugar-based cleansing ingredient made from coconut or palm fatty alcohols and glucose; helps cleanse skin and…

 C18-36 Acid 100% natural origin

A blend of long-chain plant fatty acids used as a mild cleanser and thickener, giving body and a…

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 PARETH-5. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3C12-13 PARETH-5. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=C12-13%20PARETH-5