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

Is PEG-3 Distearate natural?

Mostly. Two stearic acid chains from vegetable/tallow oleochemical feedstock (natural); the polyethylene glycol backbone from petrochemical ethylene oxide.

INCI namePEG-3 Distearate
CAS9005-08-7
FormulaC42H82O6 · 683.1 Da
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockMade by esterifying stearic acid, typically from vegetable…

How we scored it

2x stearoyl C18H35O (natural/oleochemical, 267 Da each = 535 Da) + triethylene glycol diyl core C6H12O4 (petrochemical, 148 Da) = 535/683 = 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

Made by esterifying stearic acid, typically from vegetable oil or tallow oleochemical feedstock, onto both ends of triethylene glycol (PEG-3) made from petrochemical ethylene oxide. Given formula/MW matched this structure exactly.

In plain English

An emulsifier made from two stearic acid molecules (a natural fatty acid) joined to a short petrochemical glycol chain (PEG-3).

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxooctadecyl)-.omega.-[(1-oxooctadecyl)oxy]- (3 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

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…

Structure

2D structure of PEG-3 Distearate

2-[2-(2-octadecanoyloxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethyl octadecanoate

PubChem CID 90703 ↗

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 Distearate. PubChem CID 90703. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3PEG-3 DISTEARATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4PEG-3 DISTEARATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PEG-3%20DISTEARATE