Database/Uv Absorber/Glyceryl PABA
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Glyceryl PABA natural?

Mostly not. PABA is a synthetic aminobenzoic-acid UV chromophore from petrochemical feedstock; the glycerin half of the ester is natural.

INCI nameGlyceryl PABA
CAS136-44-7
FormulaC10H13NO4 · 211.21 Da
FunctionUv Absorber
FeedstockMade by esterifying synthetic para-aminobenzoic acid (from petrochemical…

How we scored it

PABA fragment C7H6NO2 120.1 Da (petrochemical aniline/benzoic-acid derivative) + glyceryl C3H7O3 91.1 Da (natural) = 211.2 Da -> 91.1/211.2 = 0.43.
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 esterifying synthetic para-aminobenzoic acid (from petrochemical toluene/aniline routes) with vegetable glycerin. No natural-extraction route is commercially significant for PABA.

In plain English

A UV-absorbing sunscreen ingredient made by combining glycerin with PABA, a lab-made aromatic compound. Helps protect formulas and skin from UV light.

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Structure

2D structure of Glyceryl PABA

2,3-dihydroxypropyl 4-aminobenzoate

PubChem CID 8692 ↗

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. 2Glyceryl PABA. PubChem CID 8692. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3GLYCERYL PABA. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4GLYCERYL PABA. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=GLYCERYL%20PABA