Database/Antimicrobial/Glycerol Formal
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Glycerol Formal natural?

Mostly. Glycerin backbone (oleochemical/plant fat, natural) makes up ~87% of the mass; the acetal-forming carbon comes from petrochemical formaldehyde.

INCI nameGlycerol Formal
CAS4740-78-7
FormulaC4H8O3 · 104.10 Da
FunctionAntimicrobial
FeedstockGlycerol formal is made by reacting plant- or…

How we scored it

Glycerol C3H8O3 (natural) + formaldehyde CH2O (petrochemical) − H2O → C4H8O3, 104.10 Da. Formaldehyde-derived acetal CH2 =14.03 Da (n=0); glycerol-derived remainder=90.08 Da (n=1). 90.08/104.10=0.87.
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

Glycerol formal is made by reacting plant- or animal-fat-derived glycerin with formaldehyde, a petrochemical building block, to form a cyclic acetal. Formaldehyde contributes only a single carbon bridge, so most of the final molecule's mass traces back to the natural glycerin.

In plain English

A small, water-soluble molecule formed by combining glycerin with formaldehyde. Used in cosmetics mainly for its antimicrobial/preservative-boosting effect. Most of its mass comes from plant- or animal-fat-derived glycerin; a small acetal bridge comes from synthetic formaldehyde.

Natural alternatives with the same function

Agastache Rugosa Extract 100% natural origin

An extract of the whole Korean mint plant (Agastache rugosa), made by soaking the plant in a solvent…

 Ajuga Reptans Leaf Extract 100% natural origin

An extract of the leaves of bugle (Ajuga reptans), a low-growing plant of the mint family, made by…

 Alcohol Denat. 100% natural origin

Plain alcohol (ethanol) with an additive so it can't be drunk. Used as a solvent and to help…

 Alpinia Zerumbet Leaf Extract 100% natural origin

An extract of shell ginger leaves, used to help control oiliness and support skin's natural defences.

 Aluminum Hydroxide Oxide 100% natural origin

A white mineral powder (boehmite) made from bauxite ore. It is listed in cosmetic ingredient databases for astringent,…

 Antrodia Cinnamomea Extract 100% natural origin

An extract from a Taiwanese medicinal fungus, used in skincare for its antioxidant and skin-protecting properties. Produced by…

Structure

2D structure of Glycerol Formal

1,3-dioxolan-4-ylmethanol

PubChem CID 21618 ↗

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. 2Glycerol Formal. PubChem CID 21618. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3GLYCEROL FORMAL. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4GLYCEROL FORMAL. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=GLYCEROL%20FORMAL