Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/DEA-Cetyl Sulfate
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is DEA-Cetyl Sulfate natural?

Mostly. Cetyl alcohol and sulfate are oleochemical/mineral natural fragments; the diethanolamine counter-ion is a petrochemical synthetic amine.

INCI nameDEA-Cetyl Sulfate
CAS51541-51-6
FormulaC20H45NO6S · 427.6 Da
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant · Cleansing Surfactant
FeedstockCetyl alcohol (assumed oleochemical, from coconut/palm) is sulfated…

How we scored it

Cetyl hydrogen sulfate (natural C16 alcohol + sulfate) 322.5 Da + diethanolamine (synthetic amine) 105.1 Da; 322.5/427.6=0.75.
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

Cetyl alcohol (assumed oleochemical, from coconut/palm) is sulfated then neutralised with diethanolamine, a petrochemical amine made from ethylene oxide and ammonia. Synthetic Ziegler/oxo cetyl alcohol also exists; confirm with supplier.

In plain English

A cleansing and emulsifying ingredient combining a coconut/palm-derived fatty alcohol with a sulfate group, balanced with a lab-made amine, used in cleansers to help remove oil and dirt.

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…

Structure

2D structure of DEA-Cetyl Sulfate

hexadecyl hydrogen sulfate;2-(2-hydroxyethylamino)ethanol

PubChem CID 162646 ↗

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. 2DEA-Cetyl Sulfate. PubChem CID 162646. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3DEA-CETYL SULFATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4DEA-CETYL SULFATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=DEA-CETYL%20SULFATE