Database/Cleansing/Laureth-30
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Laureth-30 natural?

Mostly not. Lauryl alcohol from coconut or palm kernel oil is ethoxylated with 30 petrochemical ethylene-oxide units, which dominate the mass.

INCI nameLaureth-30
CAS9002-92-0
FunctionCleansing · Emulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockMade by reacting lauryl alcohol, typically from coconut…

How we scored it

Lauryl alcohol (C12, 186 Da, natural/coconut) + 30x ethylene oxide (30x44=1322 Da, petrochemical). 186/1508 = 0.12.
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 reacting lauryl alcohol, typically from coconut oil, with 30 mol ethylene oxide derived from petrochemical feedstock. The long ethoxylate chain makes up most of the molecule's mass.

In plain English

A cleansing and emulsifying ingredient made from coconut-derived fatty alcohol extended with a long lab-made chain. Used in shampoos and washes to help them foam and clean.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-dodecyl-.omega.-hydroxy-

Natural alternatives with the same function

Achillea Millefolium Extract 100% natural origin

An extract from yarrow, a traditional herb, used to refresh and condition skin and help control oiliness. It's…

 Achillea Millefolium Oil 100% natural origin

An essential oil steam-distilled from yarrow flowers, used for its scent and soothing, cleansing properties. It comes directly…

 Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide 100% natural origin

A short chain of glucose sugar units made by fermenting sucrose with a bacterial enzyme. Used to cleanse,…

 Arachidic Acid 100% natural origin

A waxy fatty acid from peanut and other vegetable oils, used to thicken formulas and give creams and…

 Babassu Acid 100% natural origin

A blend of fatty acids from babassu palm seed oil, used to cleanse and help stabilise the texture…

 Behenic Acid 100% natural origin

A long-chain fatty acid from vegetable oil, used to thicken and stabilise creams and conditioners. It is extracted…

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. 2LAURETH-30. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3LAURETH-30. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=LAURETH-30