Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/PEG-4 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is PEG-4 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides natural?

Mostly. Natural glycerin/coconut-fatty-acid ester ethoxylated with a short petrochemical ethylene oxide chain.

INCI namePEG-4 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockMade from glycerin and C8-C10 coconut/palm-kernel fatty acids,…

How we scored it

Glyceryl caprylate (natural: glycerin+C8 acid) = 218.28 Da + 4 EO petrochemical chain = 176.20 Da (addition, no water loss) = 394.48 Da total. 218.28/394.48 = 0.55 (caprylic acid used as representative).
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 from glycerin and C8-C10 coconut/palm-kernel fatty acids, then ethoxylated with about 4 moles ethylene oxide (petrochemical). Actual product is a mono/di/tri-glyceride mixture, so the value is approximate.

In plain English

An emulsifier made from glycerin and coconut/palm fatty acids, lightly modified with petrochemical ethylene oxide. Just over half the molecule's weight comes from plants.

CosIng definition: Mono-, di- and triglycerides, C8-C10, ethoxylated (4 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-4 CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC GLYCERIDES. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3PEG-4 CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC GLYCERIDES. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PEG-4%20CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC%20GLYCERIDES