Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/PEG-10 Laurate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is PEG-10 Laurate natural?

Mostly not. The fatty lauroyl chain is coconut/palm-kernel derived; the shorter 10-unit ethylene oxide chain is petrochemical.

INCI namePEG-10 Laurate
CAS9004-81-3
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockMade by ethoxylating lauric acid (from coconut or…

How we scored it

Lauroyl (183 Da, coconut-derived) esterified to PEG-10 (10 EO, ~459 Da, petrochemical) minus H2O: 183/641 ≈ 0.29.
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 lauric acid (from coconut or palm kernel oil) with 10 moles of petrochemical ethylene oxide. No major alternative route.

In plain English

A cleansing and emulsifying ingredient made from coconut-derived lauric acid reacted with ethylene oxide. Just under a third of its weight is natural; the rest is petroleum-derived.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxododecyl)-.omega.-hydroxy- (10 mol EO average molar ratio)

Natural alternatives with the same function

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 Arachidyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A gentle, sugar-based emulsifier used in creams and lotions to stabilize formulas without harsh surfactants. It's made from…

 Behenic Acid 100% natural origin

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

 C10-16 Alkyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A mild, sugar-based cleansing and emulsifying surfactant made by combining plant-derived fatty alcohols (coconut/palm) with glucose from starch.…

 C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A mild, sugar-based cleansing ingredient made from coconut or palm fatty alcohols and glucose; helps cleanse skin and…

 C18-36 Acid 100% natural origin

A blend of long-chain plant fatty acids used as a mild cleanser and thickener, giving body and a…

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. 2PEG-10 LAURATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3PEG-10 LAURATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PEG-10%20LAURATE