Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/PEG-12 Isostearate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is PEG-12 Isostearate natural?

Mostly not. Isostearic acid backbone is natural; the 12-unit ethylene oxide chain is entirely petrochemical.

INCI namePEG-12 Isostearate
CAS56002-14-3
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockMade by ethoxylating oleochemical isostearic acid with about…

How we scored it

Isostearic acid (284.5 Da, natural) + 12 EO (528.6 Da, petrochemical) = 284.5/813.1 ≈ 0.35. Supplied formula/MW/CAS matched PEG-3 Isostearate (identical to that entry), not the stated 12 mol EO; recalculated from CosIng description.
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 oleochemical isostearic acid with about 12 moles of ethylene oxide, a petrochemical. Flagged because the supplied formula duplicated the PEG-3 homolog's data.

In plain English

An emulsifier made from isostearic acid (a branched fatty acid) reacted with ethylene oxide, a petrochemical. Helps blend oil and water phases in creams.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxoisooctadecyl)-.omega.-hydroxy- (12 mol EO average molar ratio)

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. 2PEG-12 ISOSTEARATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3PEG-12 ISOSTEARATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PEG-12%20ISOSTEARATE