Database/Buffering/Calcium Glycinate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Calcium Glycinate natural?

It depends. The calcium counter-ion is mineral; whether the glycine half is natural depends on the supplier's glycine source.

INCI nameCalcium Glycinate
CAS35947-07-0
FormulaC4H8CaN2O4 · 188.20 Da
FunctionBuffering · Skin Conditioning
Feedstockcalcium salt of glycine (fermentation or synthetic).

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-origin glycineglycine from fermentation or protein hydrolysis chelated with calcium (mineral)1.00minorityevery atom natural or mineral origin
synthetic glycineglycine from chloroacetic acid + ammonia (petrochemical) chelated with calcium (mineral)0.21majorityonly the calcium 40.1 Da of 188.2 Da is natural origin; 40.1/188.2 = 0.21
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Glycine is route-dependent on this site (see Glycine). Calcium glycinate 188.2 Da = calcium 40.1 Da (mineral, natural) + two glycinate residues (route-dependent). Natural glycine: 1.0; synthetic glycine: 40.1/188.2 = 0.21.
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

calcium salt of glycine (fermentation or synthetic).

In plain English

A calcium salt of the amino acid glycine. Used to buffer formula pH and condition skin.

Natural alternatives with the same function

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 Babassu Acid 100% natural origin

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 Bismuth Citrate 100% natural origin

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 Boric Acid 100% natural origin

A mild mineral acid mined from natural borate deposits or brine. Used in small amounts to buffer pH,…

 Calcium Carbonate 100% natural origin

A finely ground mineral powder from limestone or chalk. Bulks out powders and pastes, acts as a mild…

Structure

2D structure of Calcium Glycinate

calcium bis(2-aminoacetate)

PubChem CID 10130287 ↗

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. 2Calcium Glycinate. PubChem CID 10130287. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3CALCIUM GLYCINATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4CALCIUM GLYCINATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=CALCIUM%20GLYCINATE