Database/Emollient/Isodecyl Stearate
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Isodecyl Stearate natural?

Mostly. Stearic acid is oleochemical; the branched isodecyl alcohol is an oxo-synthesis product from propylene trimer.

INCI nameIsodecyl Stearate
CAS31565-38-5
FormulaC28H56O2 · 424.7 Da
FunctionEmollient · Skin Conditioning
FeedstockStearic acid is split from vegetable oil or…

How we scored it

Stearoyl C18H35O 267.5Da (oleochemical) + isodecyl-O C10H21O 157.3Da (oxo-process, petrochemical) = 424.7 → 267.5/424.7=0.63
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

Stearic acid is split from vegetable oil or tallow. Isodecyl alcohol is typically made by oxo (hydroformylation) synthesis of propylene oligomers, a petrochemical route.

In plain English

An ester that makes lotions feel smooth and non-greasy. Combines stearic acid, usually from vegetable oil, with a branched synthetic alcohol made from petroleum.

Natural alternatives with the same function

Structure

2D structure of Isodecyl Stearate

8-methylnonyl octadecanoate

PubChem CID 94422 ↗

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. 2Isodecyl Stearate. PubChem CID 94422. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3ISODECYL STEARATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4ISODECYL STEARATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ISODECYL%20STEARATE