Database/Emulsion Stabilising/Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose natural?

Mostly. Natural cellulose backbone modified with petrochemical hydroxyethyl groups and a minor natural cetyl (coconut/palm) chain.

INCI nameCetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
CAS80455-45-4
FunctionEmulsion Stabilising · Film Forming
FeedstockMade by reacting wood/cotton cellulose with ethylene oxide…

How we scored it

AGU C6H10O5 162Da natural + hydroxyethyl (assumed MS~2.5)×44Da petrochemical=110 + cetyl (assumed DS~0.02)×224Da natural=4 → 166/277 ≈ 0.60 (typical DS assumed, not given).
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

Made by reacting wood/cotton cellulose with ethylene oxide (hydroxyethylation) and a small amount of cetyl fatty-alcohol group for hydrophobic modification. Exact substitution levels vary by supplier; a typical molar substitution was assumed here.

In plain English

A modified plant cellulose: the cellulose backbone is reacted with ethylene oxide and a cetyl (fatty, coconut/palm-type) chain. Used to thicken and stabilise creams and lotions and form a film on skin or hair.

CosIng definition: Cellulose, 2-hydroxyethyl hexadecyl ethers

Natural alternatives with the same function

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