Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/PEG-6 Laurate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is PEG-6 Laurate natural?

Mostly not. Lauric acid is coconut/palm-kernel derived; the short 6-unit ethylene oxide chain from petrochemical feedstock still makes up over half the mass.

INCI namePEG-6 Laurate
CAS9004-81-3
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockCoconut/palm-kernel lauric acid is esterified with polyethylene glycol…

How we scored it

CosIng states 6 mol EO; PubChem formula is a generic placeholder, overridden. Lauroyl 183 Da natural + PEG6 chain ~281 Da petrochemical -> 183/465 = 0.39.
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/palm-kernel lauric acid is esterified with polyethylene glycol averaging 6 ethylene oxide units, made from petrochemical feedstock. Being a short PEG chain, the natural fatty acid keeps a larger mass share than longer PEG-laurates.

In plain English

An emulsifier made by joining coconut-derived fatty acid to a short synthetic polyethylene glycol chain. It helps blend oil and water in creams and lotions.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxododecyl)-.omega.-hydroxy- (6 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-6 LAURATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3PEG-6 LAURATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PEG-6%20LAURATE