How we scored it
Plant phenolic acid from hydrolysis of natural tannins; all atoms plant-derived → 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
Produced by acid or enzymatic hydrolysis of tannins from gallnuts, tea waste, or other tannin-rich plants. No significant petrochemical route is used commercially.
In plain English
A natural plant acid obtained by breaking down tannins from sources like gallnuts or tea. Used in cosmetics as an antioxidant.
Structure
3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid
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.
- 2Gallic Acid. PubChem CID 370. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
- 3GALLIC ACID. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 4GALLIC ACID. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=GALLIC%20ACID