How we scored it
Ester of behenic acid (C22 fatty acid) and cetearyl alcohol (C16-18 fatty alcohol); both are oleochemical fatty-chain building blocks, so 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
Cetearyl Behenate is made by esterifying behenic acid with cetearyl alcohol, both typically derived from vegetable oils or fats. A petrochemical fatty-alcohol alternative exists but is not the cosmetic-grade default.
In plain English
A waxy emollient that softens and protects skin. It's an ester made by combining behenic acid and cetearyl alcohol, both derived from natural fats and oils.
CosIng definition: Docosanoic acid, C16-18 alkyl ester
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.
- 2CETEARYL BEHENATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3CETEARYL BEHENATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=CETEARYL%20BEHENATE