Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/PEG-25 Glyceryl Stearate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is PEG-25 Glyceryl Stearate natural?

Mostly not. The glyceryl ester of stearic acid is natural; the ethylene-oxide chain is petrochemical.

INCI namePEG-25 Glyceryl Stearate
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant · Cleansing Surfactant
FeedstockGlyceryl stearate ethoxylated with about 25 mol of…

How we scored it

PEG-25 Glyceryl Stearate: glyceryl stearate C21H42O4 358.6 Da (glycerin and stearic acid, natural) + 25 EO 1101.3 Da (petrochemical) = 1459.9 Da → 0.25. Same method as PEG-20 Glyceryl Stearate.
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

Glyceryl stearate ethoxylated with about 25 mol of ethylene oxide.

In plain English

An ester of glycerin and a plant-oil-derived fatty acid, reacted with a petrochemical compound to help oil and water mix. Used as an emulsifier and gentle cleanser.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.,.alpha.',.alpha.''-1,2,3-propanetriyltris-.omega.-hydroxy-, monooctadecanoate (25 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-25 GLYCERYL STEARATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3PEG-25 GLYCERYL STEARATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PEG-25%20GLYCERYL%20STEARATE