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

Is PEG-4 Isostearate natural?

Mostly. Isostearic acid is oleochemical-natural and dominates the mass; the short 4-unit ethylene oxide chain is petrochemical.

INCI namePEG-4 Isostearate
CAS56002-14-3
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockMade by reacting isostearic acid, vegetable-oil derived, with…

How we scored it

Generic PubChem structure (416.6 Da) represents ~3 EO, close to 4; recomputed: isostearoyl 267.5 Da natural + PEG-4 backbone 4×44.05=176.2 Da petrochemical → 267.5/460.7=0.58.
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 reacting isostearic acid, vegetable-oil derived, with 4 moles of petrochemical ethylene oxide. No natural route exists for the PEG chain.

In plain English

An emulsifier made by combining a plant-based fatty acid with a short synthetic polyethylene glycol chain. It helps blend oil and water together in creams.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxoisooctadecyl)-.omega.-hydroxy- (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 ISOSTEARATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3PEG-4 ISOSTEARATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PEG-4%20ISOSTEARATE