Database/Emollient/Isohexadecane
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Isohexadecane natural?

No. Isohexadecane is a synthetic branched hydrocarbon built from petrochemical olefins via oligomerization and hydrogenation, with no natural-origin carbon.

INCI nameIsohexadecane
CAS4390-04-9
FormulaC16H34 · 226.44 Da
FunctionEmollient · Solvent
FeedstockIsohexadecane is manufactured by oligomerizing petrochemical olefins (e.g.…

How we scored it

C16H34 branched isoparaffin; entirely petrochemical olefin oligomerization + hydrogenation; no natural fragment; 0.00.
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

Isohexadecane is manufactured by oligomerizing petrochemical olefins (e.g. propylene/isobutylene derivatives) and hydrogenating the product to a stable branched C16 hydrocarbon. There is no commercially significant natural-feedstock route.

In plain English

A lightweight, silky liquid used as a solvent and skin-feel emollient in makeup and skincare. It's a synthetic branched hydrocarbon made in a petrochemical plant, not derived from plants, animals, or minerals.

CosIng definition: Isohexadecane is a branched chain aliphatic hydrocarbon with 16 carbons.

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Structure

2D structure of Isohexadecane

2,2,4,4,6,8,8-heptamethylnonane

PubChem CID 20414 ↗

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. 2Isohexadecane. PubChem CID 20414. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3ISOHEXADECANE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4ISOHEXADECANE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ISOHEXADECANE