Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/PEG-4 Dilaurate
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is PEG-4 Dilaurate natural?

Mostly. Lauric acid chains trace to coconut/palm-kernel oil; the PEG-4 backbone traces to petrochemical ethylene oxide.

INCI namePEG-4 Dilaurate
CAS9005-02-1
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockMade by esterifying both ends of polyethylene glycol…

How we scored it

CosIng describes a PEG-4 (4 EO) diester; supplied formula/IUPAC matches plain ethylene-glycol dilaurate (1 EO) and is ignored. PEG-4 backbone 192.2 Da (petrochemical) + 2 lauroyl 366.6 Da (natural) = 558.8 Da → 366.6/558.8 = 0.66.
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 both ends of polyethylene glycol (4 mol EO, from petrochemical ethylene oxide) with lauric acid, typically from coconut or palm-kernel oil. No alternative bio-based PEG route is in significant commercial use.

In plain English

An emulsifier made by attaching two lauric acid (coconut-type fatty acid) chains to a short polyethylene glycol (PEG) backbone, helping blend oil and water in formulas.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxododecyl)-.omega.-[(1-oxododecyl)oxy]- (4 mol EO average molar ratio)

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