Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/PEG-150 Distearate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is PEG-150 Distearate natural?

Mostly not. Both stearic acid ends are oleochemical, but the very long 150-mole ethylene oxide backbone is petrochemical and dominates the molecule's mass.

INCI namePEG-150 Distearate
CAS9005-08-7
FormulaC19H40O4 · 332.5 Da
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant · Cleansing Surfactant
FeedstockTwo stearic acid molecules, from vegetable oil or…

How we scored it

2 stearic acid − 2 H2O = 533 natural; 150 EO × 44 = 6608 petrochemical; 533/7140 = 0.07.
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

Two stearic acid molecules, from vegetable oil or tallow, are attached to each end of a long PEG-150 chain built from petrochemical ethylene oxide. The ethylene oxide backbone accounts for most of the weight.

In plain English

A thickener and emulsion stabiliser used in creams and lotions. Made from two stearic acid molecules, a fatty acid from vegetable oils or animal fat, attached to each end of a very long petroleum-derived ethylene oxide chain. Mostly petrochemical by weight.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxooctadecyl)-.omega.-[(1-oxooctadecyl)oxy]- (150 mol EO average molar ratio)

Natural alternatives with the same function

Arachidic Acid 100% natural origin

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 Arachidyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

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 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

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 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…

Structure

2D structure of PEG-150 Distearate

ethane-1,2-diol;heptadecanoic acid

PubChem CID 16211945 ↗

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-150 Distearate. PubChem CID 16211945. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3PEG-150 DISTEARATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4PEG-150 DISTEARATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PEG-150%20DISTEARATE