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

Is PEG-12 Oleate natural?

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

INCI namePEG-12 Oleate
CAS9004-96-0
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockMade by ethoxylating vegetable-oil-derived oleic acid with about…

How we scored it

Oleic acid (282.5 Da, natural, whole acid retained) + 12 EO (528.6 Da, petrochemical) = 282.5/811.1 ≈ 0.35. Supplied formula/MW matched a 1-EO homolog, not the stated 12 mol EO; recalculated from CosIng description per instructions.
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 vegetable-oil-derived oleic acid with about 12 moles of ethylene oxide, a petrochemical. The oleic acid portion is natural; the PEG chain is not.

In plain English

An emulsifier made from oleic acid (from vegetable oils) reacted with ethylene oxide, a petrochemical. Helps blend oil and water in creams and lotions.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxo-9-octadecenyl)-.omega.-hydroxy-, (Z)- (12 mol EO average molar ratio)

Natural alternatives with the same function

Arachidic Acid 100% natural origin

A waxy fatty acid from peanut and other vegetable oils, used to thicken formulas and give creams and…

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