Database/Skin Conditioning/Genistein
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Genistein natural?

It depends. Genistein is sold both as a soy-derived extract and as a fully synthetic isoflavone; the value depends on the supplier.

INCI nameGenistein
CAS446-72-0
FormulaC15H10O5 · 270.24 Da
FunctionSkin Conditioning
FeedstockSoybean isoflavones or petrochemical aromatics, depending on the…

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
soy isoflavone extractiongenistin from soybean or Sophora extract, hydrolysed to the aglycone1.00natural cosmetic gradesplant metabolite, every atom natural origin
chemical synthesisphloroglucinol + 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (petrochemical aromatics)0.00high-purity gradesno natural-origin atoms
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Whole-molecule routes: extracted from soy isoflavones = 1.0; total synthesis from petrochemical phloroglucinol and 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid = 0.0. Two commercial routes, so route-dependent.
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

Soybean isoflavones or petrochemical aromatics, depending on the manufacturer.

In plain English

A plant compound (isoflavone) typically extracted from soybeans. Used in skincare for its skin-conditioning properties, often in anti-ageing or brightening products.

CosIng definition: Genistein is the organic compound that conforms to the formula:

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Structure

2D structure of Genistein

5,7-dihydroxy-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)chromen-4-one

PubChem CID 5280961 ↗

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. 2Genistein. PubChem CID 5280961. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3GENISTEIN. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4GENISTEIN. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=GENISTEIN