Database/Emollient/Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Hydrogenated Polyisobutene natural?

No. Isobutylene, the sole repeat-unit monomer, is a petroleum-cracking product with no natural cosmetic-grade source.

INCI nameHydrogenated Polyisobutene
CAS40921-86-6
FunctionEmollient · Skin Conditioning
FeedstockMade by polymerising isobutylene, obtained from petroleum or…

How we scored it

Homopolymer of isobutylene (petrochemical monomer from petroleum cracking), fully hydrogenated; no natural fragment → 0.00.
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 polymerising isobutylene, obtained from petroleum or natural-gas cracking, then hydrogenating the polymer. No renewable manufacturing route exists.

In plain English

A thick, silicone-like oil that gives products a smooth glide and glossy finish. It is built entirely from petroleum-derived building blocks.

CosIng definition: Propene, 2-methyl-, homopolymer

Natural alternatives with the same function

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. 2HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=HYDROGENATED%20POLYISOBUTENE