Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/PEG-4 Cocamide
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is PEG-4 Cocamide natural?

Mostly not. Ethoxylated coconut monoethanolamide: the fatty-acid chain is natural; the ethanolamine head and the ethylene-oxide chain are petrochemical.

INCI namePEG-4 Cocamide
CAS68425-44-5
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant · Cleansing Surfactant
FeedstockCoconut fatty acid amidated with monoethanolamine and ethoxylated…

How we scored it

Coco acyl taken as lauroyl C12H23O 183.3 Da (natural), as for PEG-3 and PEG-5 Cocamide; amide NH, the hydroxyethyl group of MEA and 3 further EO (4 EO-equivalents 176.2 Da) and the terminal H are petrochemical; total 375.5 Da → 0.49.
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 fatty acid amidated with monoethanolamine and ethoxylated with about 3 more mol of ethylene oxide.

In plain English

A mild cleansing and emulsifying ingredient made from coconut fatty acid combined with an ethoxylated amine. Helps cleansers foam and keep oil and water mixed together.

CosIng definition: Amides, coco alkyl, N-(hydroxyethyl), ethoxylated (3 mol EO average molar ratio)

Natural alternatives with the same function

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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 COCAMIDE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3PEG-4 COCAMIDE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PEG-4%20COCAMIDE