Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/PEG-3 Diisostearate
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is PEG-3 Diisostearate natural?

Mostly. Isostearic acid is oleochemical, derived from natural fatty acids; the short 3-unit ethylene oxide backbone is petrochemical.

INCI namePEG-3 Diisostearate
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockDiester of isostearic acid (branched, made from natural…

How we scored it

Supplied formula matches the 3-EO structure; 2×isostearoyl(535) natural / total 683.1 = 0.78.
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

Diester of isostearic acid (branched, made from natural oleic acid) with triethylene glycol from petrochemical ethylene oxide.

In plain English

An emulsifier made from isostearic acid, a branched fatty acid derived from vegetable oil, joined to a very short synthetic petrochemical glycol chain.

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