Database/Emollient/Isohexyl Neopentanoate
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Isohexyl Neopentanoate natural?

No. Neither the branched alcohol nor the neo-acid is made from natural fatty feedstocks; both are petrochemical specialty chemicals.

INCI nameIsohexyl Neopentanoate
CAS131141-70-3
FormulaC11H22O2 · 186.29 Da
FunctionEmollient · Skin Conditioning
FeedstockMade by esterifying petrochemical isohexanol with pivalic (neopentanoic)…

How we scored it

Both fragments synthetic: isohexanol (petrochemical branched C6 alcohol) + neopentanoic/pivalic acid (Koch synthesis from isobutylene+CO); 0/186.3 = 0.0
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

Made by esterifying petrochemical isohexanol with pivalic (neopentanoic) acid, produced from isobutylene and carbon monoxide (Koch synthesis). No natural route exists for either fragment.

In plain English

A light, silky synthetic ester used as an emollient to give creams and makeup a smooth, non-greasy after-feel.

Natural alternatives with the same function

Acacia Dealbata Flower Wax 100% natural origin

A soft wax from mimosa flowers used to condition skin and add emollience. It is derived directly from…

 Acrocomia Aculeata Seed Butter 100% natural origin

A solid plant fat obtained from the seeds of the macauba palm, a South American tree, used to…

 Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract 100% natural origin

An extract made from kiwi fruit, used in cosmetics as a skin-conditioning and softening ingredient. Comes directly from…

 Actinidia Chinensis Seed Oil 100% natural origin

A plant oil pressed from kiwi seeds, used to soften and condition skin. It's a natural vegetable oil…

 Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract 100% natural origin

An extract of baobab fruit, from the African baobab tree. Used as an emollient to soften and smooth…

 Adansonia Digitata Oil 100% natural origin

A rich vegetable oil pressed from the baobab tree's fruit pulp and leaves. Used to soften and condition…

Structure

2D structure of Isohexyl Neopentanoate

4-methylpentyl 2,2-dimethylpropanoate

PubChem CID 546056 ↗

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. 2Isohexyl Neopentanoate. PubChem CID 546056. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3ISOHEXYL NEOPENTANOATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4ISOHEXYL NEOPENTANOATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ISOHEXYL%20NEOPENTANOATE