Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/PEG-6 Diisostearate
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is PEG-6 Diisostearate natural?

Mostly. Polyethylene glycol diester of isostearic acid. Both fatty-acid chains are natural; the 6-unit ethylene-oxide chain is petrochemical.

INCI namePEG-6 Diisostearate
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockIsostearic acid from oleic-acid dimerisation (oleochemical) esterified at…

How we scored it

PEG-6 Diisostearate: two isostearoyl fragments 2×C18H35O 535.0 Da (natural) on a PEG-6 chain; PEG-6 282.3 Da + 2×isostearic acid 569.0 Da − 2 H2O = 815.3 Da → 0.66. The ester oxygens go with the PEG chain, as for PEG-4 Dilaurate.
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

Isostearic acid from oleic-acid dimerisation (oleochemical) esterified at both ends of polyethylene glycol (about 6 ethylene-oxide units).

In plain English

An emulsifier that helps blend oil and water in creams and lotions. Made from a branched, coconut/palm-type fatty acid joined to a short synthetic PEG chain.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxoisooctadecyl)-.omega.-[(1-oxoisooctadecyl)oxy]- (6 mol EO average molar ratio)

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 C10-16 Alkyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

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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-6 DIISOSTEARATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3PEG-6 DIISOSTEARATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PEG-6%20DIISOSTEARATE