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

Is PEG-6 Oleamide natural?

Mostly not. Oleic-acid-derived oleoyl group (natural) amidated to ethanolamine and ethoxylated with ~6 EO (both petrochemical).

INCI namePEG-6 Oleamide
CAS26027-37-2
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockMade by amidating oleic acid (from vegetable or…

How we scored it

Oleoyl fragment (natural, from oleic acid) 265/590 Da + ethanolamine+6EO fragment (petrochemical) 325/590 Da = 265/590 = 0.45.
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 amidating oleic acid (from vegetable or animal fat) with ethanolamine, then ethoxylating with about 6 moles of ethylene oxide. Ethanolamine and ethylene oxide are both petrochemical-derived; given PubChem formula appears to reflect a lower-EO congener, so the stated 6 mol EO average was used instead.

In plain English

A processed form of oleic acid (from vegetable or animal fat) reacted with ethanolamine and ethylene oxide, used as an emulsifier to blend oil and water in formulas.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-[2-[(1-oxo-9-octadecenyl)amino]ethyl]-.omega.-hydroxy- (6 mol EO average molar ratio)

Natural alternatives with the same function

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 Behenic Acid 100% natural origin

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