Database/Film Forming/Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate natural?

Mostly. Fermentation-derived hyaluronic acid is modified with a petrochemical cationic group to give it film-forming, conditioning character.

INCI nameHydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate
FunctionFilm Forming
FeedstockSodium hyaluronate from bacterial fermentation is reacted with…

How we scored it

Assumed ~50% of HA disaccharide units (379 Da, natural) carry a quat group from petrochemical glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (152 Da, Cl- 35 Da natural) → 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

Sodium hyaluronate from bacterial fermentation is reacted with glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride, a petrochemical quaternising agent. Degree of substitution varies by supplier and grade.

In plain English

A conditioning, film-forming form of hyaluronic acid given a mild positive charge so it clings better to hair and skin. The backbone is natural; the added charged group is synthetic.

CosIng definition: Hyaluronic acid, 2-hydroxy-3-(N,N,N-trimethylammonio)propyl chloride derivatives

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