How we scored it
Isocetyl alcohol (C16 Guerbet dimer of oleochemical octanol) esterified with palmitic acid (natural fatty acid); water lost → both natural blocks → 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
Isocetyl alcohol is made by Guerbet-dimerizing a shorter natural fatty alcohol (typically coconut/palm-kernel derived octanol), then esterified with palmitic acid. A petrochemical (oxo-alcohol) feedstock is possible, so a supplier check is advisable.
In plain English
An ester of a branched coconut/palm-derived fatty alcohol (isocetyl alcohol) and palmitic acid, a common fatty acid. Used as a lightweight emollient that softens skin without feeling greasy.
Structure
14-methylpentadecyl hexadecanoate
References
- 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.
- 2Isocetyl Palmitate. PubChem CID 12049205. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
- 3ISOCETYL PALMITATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 4ISOCETYL PALMITATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ISOCETYL%20PALMITATE