Database/Light Stabilizer/Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate natural?

No. This UV filter's aromatic chromophore is built from petrochemical anisaldehyde, and commercial isoamyl alcohol supply is also synthetic.

INCI nameIsoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate
CAS71617-10-2
FormulaC15H20O3 · 248.32 Da
FunctionLight Stabilizer · Uv Absorber
FeedstockIsoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate is manufactured by reacting synthetic p-methoxycinnamic…

How we scored it

p-Methoxycinnamic acid made from synthetic anisaldehyde (Perkin condensation, petrochemical aromatic) esterified with isoamyl alcohol (synthetic); whole UV-filter chromophore treated as petrochemical.
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

Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate is manufactured by reacting synthetic p-methoxycinnamic acid, made from petrochemical anisaldehyde, with isoamyl alcohol. Both building blocks are produced industrially with no significant natural-extraction route.

In plain English

A sunscreen ingredient that absorbs UVB rays to help protect skin from sunburn. It is manufactured from petrochemical starting materials in a chemical plant rather than extracted from any plant source.

CosIng definition: Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate is the ester of isoamyl alcohol and p-methoxycinnamic acid. It conforms generally to the formula:

Natural alternatives with the same function

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Structure

2D structure of Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate

3-methylbutyl 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate

PubChem CID 92386 ↗

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. 2Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate. PubChem CID 92386. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3ISOAMYL P-METHOXYCINNAMATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4ISOAMYL P-METHOXYCINNAMATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ISOAMYL%20P-METHOXYCINNAMATE