Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/PEG-75 Distearate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is PEG-75 Distearate natural?

Mostly not. Polyethylene glycol diester of stearic acid. Both fatty-acid chains are natural; the 75-unit ethylene-oxide chain is petrochemical.

INCI namePEG-75 Distearate
CAS9005-08-7
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant · Cleansing Surfactant
FeedstockVegetable or tallow stearic acid esterified at both…

How we scored it

PEG-75 Distearate: two stearoyl fragments 2×C18H35O 535.0 Da (natural) on a PEG-75 chain; PEG-75 3322.0 Da + 2×stearic acid 569.0 Da − 2 H2O = 3854.9 Da → 0.14. 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

Vegetable or tallow stearic acid esterified at both ends of polyethylene glycol (about 75 ethylene-oxide units).

In plain English

A wax-like ingredient made by combining stearic acid (from vegetable fat) with a petroleum-derived polyethylene glycol (PEG) chain. Used as an emulsifier and cleansing ingredient.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxooctadecyl)-.omega.-[(1-oxooctadecyl)oxy]- (75 mol EO average molar ratio)

Natural alternatives with the same function

Arachidic Acid 100% natural origin

A waxy fatty acid from peanut and other vegetable oils, used to thicken formulas and give creams and…

 Arachidyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A gentle, sugar-based emulsifier used in creams and lotions to stabilize formulas without harsh surfactants. It's made from…

 Behenic Acid 100% natural origin

A long-chain fatty acid from vegetable oil, used to thicken and stabilise creams and conditioners. It is extracted…

 C10-16 Alkyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A mild, sugar-based cleansing and emulsifying surfactant made by combining plant-derived fatty alcohols (coconut/palm) with glucose from starch.…

 C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A mild, sugar-based cleansing ingredient made from coconut or palm fatty alcohols and glucose; helps cleanse skin and…

 C18-36 Acid 100% natural origin

A blend of long-chain plant fatty acids used as a mild cleanser and thickener, giving body and a…

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-75 DISTEARATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3PEG-75 DISTEARATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PEG-75%20DISTEARATE