Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/Hydroxylated Lecithin
100% natural origin · ISO 16128

Is Hydroxylated Lecithin natural?

Yes. Lecithin from soy or sunflower is natural; hydroxylation is an oxidative modification that adds no petrochemical carbon.

INCI nameHydroxylated Lecithin
CAS8029-76-3
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant · Skin Conditioning
FeedstockMade by treating natural lecithin, typically from soy…

How we scored it

Lecithin (natural soy/sunflower phospholipid) hydroxylated via peroxide treatment; oxidant adds no petrochemical carbon skeleton, analogous to Hydrogenated Lecithin = 1.0 -> 1.0
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 treating natural lecithin, typically from soy or sunflower, with a peroxide to add hydroxyl groups for better water dispersibility. No petrochemical carbon skeleton is introduced.

In plain English

An emulsifier and skin conditioner derived from soy or sunflower lecithin, modified to dissolve more easily in water. It remains a fully plant-derived ingredient.

CosIng definition: Lecithins, hydroxylated

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