Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/PEG-20 Dioleate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is PEG-20 Dioleate natural?

Mostly not. The two oleic acid portions are vegetable-oil natural; the PEG-20 ethylene oxide backbone connecting them is petrochemical.

INCI namePEG-20 Dioleate
CAS9005-07-6
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockMade by esterifying two oleic acid molecules, from…

How we scored it

Given formula (591 Da) is the 0-EO ethylene glycol dioleate; actual PEG-20 backbone adds 20×44.05=881 Da petrochemical. 2× oleic acid (natural) 528.9 Da / total 1427.9 Da = 0.37.
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 esterifying two oleic acid molecules, from vegetable oil, onto both ends of a PEG-20 chain built from petrochemical ethylene oxide. No natural route exists for the PEG backbone.

In plain English

An emulsifier made by attaching plant-derived oleic acid to both ends of a synthetic polyethylene glycol chain. It helps blend oil and water together in creams and lotions.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxo-9-octadecenyl)-.omega.-[(1-oxo-9-octadecenyl)oxy]-, (Z,Z)- (20 mol EO average molar ratio)

Natural alternatives with the same function

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 C10-16 Alkyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

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