Database/Emollient/Methyl Glucose Sesquiisostearate
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Methyl Glucose Sesquiisostearate natural?

Mostly. Glucose and isostearic acid, a branched C18 oleochemical fatty acid, are natural; only the small methanol-derived methyl cap is petrochemical.

INCI nameMethyl Glucose Sesquiisostearate
FunctionEmollient · Emulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockPartial ester of methyl glucose with isostearic acid…

How we scored it

Methyl glucose core ~194 Da (glucose 180 + methanol methyl cap 15) esterified with ~1.5 mol isostearic acid (~267 Da acyl each, natural); only the methanol CH3 (~15 Da) is petrochemical → approx 0.97
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

Partial ester of methyl glucose with isostearic acid at roughly 1.5 acid groups per glucose unit (2:3 molar ratio per CosIng). Isostearic acid is typically oleochemical; glucose is starch-derived.

In plain English

An emollient and emulsifier made by combining plant sugar (glucose) with methanol and isostearic acid, a branched fatty acid usually from vegetable oil. Softens skin and helps blend formulas.

CosIng definition: D-Glucopyranoside, methyl, isododecanoate (2:3)

Natural alternatives with the same function

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. 2METHYL GLUCOSE SESQUIISOSTEARATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3METHYL GLUCOSE SESQUIISOSTEARATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=METHYL%20GLUCOSE%20SESQUIISOSTEARATE