Database/Cleansing Surfactant/PEG-32 Laurate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is PEG-32 Laurate natural?

Mostly not. Lauric acid is coconut/palm-kernel derived; the 32-unit polyethylene glycol chain from petrochemical ethylene oxide makes up most of the mass.

INCI namePEG-32 Laurate
CAS9004-81-3
FunctionCleansing Surfactant
FeedstockCoconut/palm-kernel lauric acid is esterified with polyethylene glycol…

How we scored it

CosIng states 32 mol EO average; PubChem formula is a generic placeholder, overridden. Lauroyl 183 Da natural + PEG32 chain ~1427 Da petrochemical -> 183/1610 = 0.11.
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

Coconut/palm-kernel lauric acid is esterified with polyethylene glycol averaging 32 ethylene oxide units, made from petrochemical feedstock. The PEG chain is the majority of the molecule's weight.

In plain English

A mild surfactant made by joining coconut-derived fatty acid to a synthetic polyethylene glycol chain. It helps cleansing and emulsifying in personal care products.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxododecyl)-.omega.-hydroxy- (32 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-32 LAURATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3PEG-32 LAURATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PEG-32%20LAURATE