How we scored it
Ester chains: isostearyl alcohol, isostearic acid and stearic acid, all oleochemical (n=1); esterification adds no foreign mass: 1.00.
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
Dominant route: esterification of oleochemical fatty acids and alcohol from palm or other vegetable oils (isostearic acid arises from oleic acid isomerisation). Supplier note: isostearyl alcohol can also be oxo-derived petrochemical, and the exact structure of this ester is not published.
In plain English
A heavy, silky ester oil used to soften skin and give creams and lipsticks a smooth, cushioned feel. It is built from stearic acid, isostearic acid and isostearyl alcohol, made from vegetable oils or animal fats.
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.
- 2ISOSTEARYL ISOSTEAROYL STEARATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3ISOSTEARYL ISOSTEAROYL STEARATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ISOSTEARYL%20ISOSTEAROYL%20STEARATE