Database/Cleansing/Magnesium Laureth Sulfate
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Magnesium Laureth Sulfate natural?

Mostly. Lauryl chain is coconut/palm-derived; sulfate and magnesium are mineral; the ethoxylate chain (1-4 mol EO) is petrochemical ethylene oxide.

INCI nameMagnesium Laureth Sulfate
CAS62755-21-9
FormulaC36H74MgO14S2 · 819.4 Da
FunctionCleansing · Cleansing Surfactant
FeedstockMade by ethoxylating coconut/palm-derived lauryl alcohol, sulfating, and…

How we scored it

Lauryl C12H25 ~169 Da (natural) + SO4 ~96 Da (mineral) + half-Mg ~12 Da (mineral) = 277 natural; ~3 mol EO ~132 Da (petrochemical) / 409 total = 0.68
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 ethoxylating coconut/palm-derived lauryl alcohol, sulfating, and neutralizing with magnesium base. Ethoxylation degree assumed at the mid-range (~3 mol EO) of the stated 1-4 mol range.

In plain English

A cleansing surfactant made from coconut/palm-derived lauryl alcohol reacted with ethylene oxide and sulfated, paired with magnesium. Used in shampoos and body washes to create lather.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-hydro-.omega.-dodecyloxy-, sulfates, magnesium salts (1-4 mol EO average molar ratio)

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Structure

2D structure of Magnesium Laureth Sulfate

magnesium bis(2-[2-(2-dodecoxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethyl sulfate)

PubChem CID 44150971 ↗

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. 2Magnesium Laureth Sulfate. PubChem CID 44150971. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3MAGNESIUM LAURETH SULFATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4MAGNESIUM LAURETH SULFATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=MAGNESIUM%20LAURETH%20SULFATE