Database/Uv Absorber/Isopropyl Methoxycinnamate
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Isopropyl Methoxycinnamate natural?

No. Both the methoxycinnamic acid (aromatic) and isopropanol portions are manufactured from petrochemical feedstocks commercially.

INCI nameIsopropyl Methoxycinnamate
CAS5466-76-2
FunctionUv Absorber
FeedstockMade by esterifying synthetic 4-methoxycinnamic acid (from petrochemical…

How we scored it

Methoxycinnamate (aromatic sunscreen chromophore) and isopropanol are both petrochemical; no natural fragment.
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 synthetic 4-methoxycinnamic acid (from petrochemical anisaldehyde) with isopropanol. Related to the sunscreen filter octinoxate; no natural route is used commercially.

In plain English

A UV-absorbing sunscreen ingredient related to the common filter octinoxate. It's manufactured by combining a synthetic methoxycinnamic acid with isopropanol, both produced from petrochemical feedstocks.

Natural alternatives with the same function

Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract 100% natural origin

An extract of sunflower seeds used in skincare and haircare to condition skin and hair and offer mild…

 Manganese Oxide 100% natural origin

A dark mineral powder that absorbs ultraviolet and visible light, used in small amounts as a colourant or…

 Spirulina Platensis Powder 100% natural origin

A powder made from dried, ground Spirulina algae. Used in skincare to help protect and condition the skin.

 Tocotrienols 100% natural origin

A form of vitamin E extracted from sources like palm oil, rice bran, or annatto. Used in skin…

 Zinc Ascorbate Hydroxide 100% natural origin

A zinc salt of vitamin C made by reacting ascorbic acid with zinc chloride and sodium hydroxide. It…

Structure

2D structure of Isopropyl Methoxycinnamate

PubChem CID 5355128 ↗

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. 2Isopropyl Methoxycinnamate. PubChem CID 5355128. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3ISOPROPYL METHOXYCINNAMATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4ISOPROPYL METHOXYCINNAMATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ISOPROPYL%20METHOXYCINNAMATE