Database/Humectant/Glycereth-31
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Glycereth-31 natural?

Mostly not. Glycerin backbone is natural (oleochemical/fermentation); the dominant mass is 31 mol of petrochemical ethylene oxide added.

INCI nameGlycereth-31
CAS31694-55-0
FunctionHumectant · Skin Conditioning
FeedstockMade by reacting plant- or tallow-derived glycerin with…

How we scored it

CosIng confirms 31 mol EO average (given formula/IUPAC is a mismatched low-EO structure, disregarded); glycerin 92.1 Da (natural) + 31xEO 1365.6 Da (petrochemical) = 92.1/1457.7 = 0.06
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 plant- or tallow-derived glycerin with a large excess (about 31 moles) of petrochemical ethylene oxide. The heavy ethoxylation makes ethylene oxide the dominant mass contributor.

In plain English

A humectant made by reacting plant-derived glycerin with a large number (about 31) of ethylene oxide units, a petrochemical building block. Used in skincare and cleansers to attract moisture and help other ingredients dissolve.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl),.alpha.,.alpha.',.alpha.""-1,2,3-propanetryiltris[.omega.-hydroxy- (31 mol EO average molar ratio)

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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. 2GLYCERETH-31. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3GLYCERETH-31. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=GLYCERETH-31