Database/Skin Conditioning/Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate natural?

No. Both the retinoate and the branched hydroxypinacolone alcohol are synthesised from petrochemical feedstocks.

INCI nameHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
CAS893412-73-2
FormulaC26H38O3 · 398.6 Da
FunctionSkin Conditioning
FeedstockManufactured by esterifying a synthetic retinoic-acid derivative with…

How we scored it

Synthetic retinoic-acid-type fragment esterified with hydroxypinacolone, a neopentyl-type synthetic alcohol; both petrochemical → 0/total = 0.0.
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

Manufactured by esterifying a synthetic retinoic-acid derivative with hydroxypinacolone, a neopentyl-glycol-type alcohol made from petrochemical formaldehyde and isobutyraldehyde. No natural feedstock is used.

In plain English

A gentler, ester form of retinoic acid used to condition skin with less irritation than retinol. It is manufactured synthetically by combining a retinoic-acid-type molecule with a branched synthetic alcohol, both petrochemical in origin.

Natural alternatives with the same function

Abelmoschus Esculentus Fruit Extract 100% natural origin

An extract made from okra pods, used to condition skin in cosmetic formulas. Produced by extracting the fruit,…

 Abelmoschus Manihot Flower Extract 100% natural origin

A flower extract from a hibiscus relative, used to condition and soothe skin. Made by extracting the flowers…

 Abies Alba Extract 100% natural origin

An extract of the European silver fir (Abies alba), a conifer from the mountains of Europe. It is…

 Acacia Concinna Fruit Extract 100% natural origin

An extract from shikakai fruit, a plant traditionally used in Indian hair and skin care. It conditions skin…

 Acacia Dealbata Flower Extract 100% natural origin

An extract of mimosa flowers used to help condition skin. Made by extracting compounds from the fragrant yellow…

 Acacia Dealbata Flower Wax 100% natural origin

A soft wax from mimosa flowers used to condition skin and add emollience. It is derived directly from…

Structure

2D structure of Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate

(3,3-dimethyl-2-oxobutyl) (2E,4E,6E,8E)-3,7-dimethyl-9-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexen-1-yl)nona-2,4,6,8-tetraenoate

PubChem CID 25054592 ↗

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. 2Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate. PubChem CID 25054592. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3HYDROXYPINACOLONE RETINOATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4HYDROXYPINACOLONE RETINOATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=HYDROXYPINACOLONE%20RETINOATE