Database/Cleansing/PEG-3 Isostearate
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is PEG-3 Isostearate natural?

Mostly. Isostearic acid backbone is natural; the short 3-unit ethylene oxide chain is petrochemical.

INCI namePEG-3 Isostearate
CAS56002-14-3
FunctionCleansing · Emulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockMade by ethoxylating oleochemical isostearic acid with about…

How we scored it

Isostearic acid (284.5 Da, natural, whole acid retained) + 3 EO (132.2 Da, petrochemical) = 284.5/416.6 ≈ 0.68.
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 ethoxylating oleochemical isostearic acid with about 3 moles of ethylene oxide, a petrochemical. The isostearic acid portion dominates the mass.

In plain English

An emulsifier made from isostearic acid (a branched, vegetable-derived fatty acid) reacted with a small amount of ethylene oxide, a petrochemical. Helps blend oils with water and can boost cleansing.

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