Database/Cleansing/Laureth-5 Carboxylic Acid
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Laureth-5 Carboxylic Acid natural?

Mostly not. The lauryl chain is natural; the ethylene-oxide chain and the carboxymethyl end group are petrochemical.

INCI nameLaureth-5 Carboxylic Acid
CAS27306-90-7
FunctionCleansing · Emulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockLaureth-5 carboxymethylated with chloroacetic acid.

How we scored it

The INCI name fixes 5 EO. Lauryl-oxy C12H25O 185.3 Da (natural) + 5 EO 220.3 Da + carboxymethyl CH2COOH 59.0 Da (chloroacetic acid, petrochemical) = 464.6 Da → 0.40. Same method as Sodium Laureth-13 Carboxylate.
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

Laureth-5 carboxymethylated with chloroacetic acid.

In plain English

A mild cleansing ingredient made from coconut-derived lauryl alcohol, ethoxylated and finished with an acid group. Used in cleansers to help remove oil gently.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl),.alpha.-carboxymethyl-.omega.-dodecyloxy-, (4 mol EO average molar ratio); Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(carboxymethyl)-omega-hydroxy-, C12-14-alkyl ethers

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-5 CARBOXYLIC ACID. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3LAURETH-5 CARBOXYLIC ACID. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=LAURETH-5%20CARBOXYLIC%20ACID