Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/PEG-8 Stearate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is PEG-8 Stearate natural?

Mostly not. Stearic acid arm is oleochemical fat-derived; the short ethylene-oxide chain is petrochemical.

INCI namePEG-8 Stearate
CAS9004-99-3
FormulaC20H40O3 · 328.5 Da
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant · Humectant
FeedstockStearic acid is typically derived from palm or…

How we scored it

Stearic acid 284 Da (natural) -17 Da ester OH = 267 Da; +8 EO = 352 Da (petrochemical); 267/(267+352) = 0.43.
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

Stearic acid is typically derived from palm or tallow fat, esterified with a short chain of fossil-derived ethylene oxide. No natural route exists for the ethoxylation step.

In plain English

An emulsifier and mild cleansing ingredient that helps blend oil and water. Made by combining stearic acid, usually from vegetable or animal fat, with a short chain of petrochemical ethylene oxide.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(1-oxooctadecyl)-.omega.-hydroxy- (8 mol EO average molar ratio)

Natural alternatives with the same function

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 C10-16 Alkyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

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 C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

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 C18-36 Acid 100% natural origin

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Structure

2D structure of PEG-8 Stearate

2-hydroxyethyl octadecanoate

PubChem CID 24762 ↗

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-8 Stearate. PubChem CID 24762. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3PEG-8 STEARATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4PEG-8 STEARATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PEG-8%20STEARATE