Database/Cleansing/PEG-90 Glyceryl Isostearate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is PEG-90 Glyceryl Isostearate natural?

Mostly not. The glycerin-isostearate core is oleochemical, but the very long 90 mol ethylene oxide chain, which is petrochemical, dominates the final mass.

INCI namePEG-90 Glyceryl Isostearate
FunctionCleansing
FeedstockMade by ethoxylating glycerin with 90 mol of…

How we scored it

Glycerin (92 Da, natural) esterified with isostearic acid (284 Da, natural, minus H2O) = 359 Da natural core + 90 mol EO (3965 Da, petrochemical). 359/4323 = 0.08.
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 ethoxylating glycerin with 90 mol of petrochemical ethylene oxide, then esterifying with isostearic acid (oleochemical, from vegetable-oil-derived oleic acid). The long PEG chain dominates the molecule's mass.

In plain English

A mild cleansing agent used in washes and shampoos, made from plant-derived glycerin and fatty acid combined with a long synthetic ethylene oxide chain.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.,.alpha.',.alpha.''-1,2,3-propanetriyltris-.omega.-hydroxy-, isooctadecanoate (90 mol EO average molar ratio)

Natural alternatives with the same function

Achillea Millefolium Extract 100% natural origin

An extract from yarrow, a traditional herb, used to refresh and condition skin and help control oiliness. It's…

 Achillea Millefolium Oil 100% natural origin

An essential oil steam-distilled from yarrow flowers, used for its scent and soothing, cleansing properties. It comes directly…

 Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide 100% natural origin

A short chain of glucose sugar units made by fermenting sucrose with a bacterial enzyme. Used to cleanse,…

 Arachidic Acid 100% natural origin

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

 Babassu Acid 100% natural origin

A blend of fatty acids from babassu palm seed oil, used to cleanse and help stabilise the texture…

 Behenic Acid 100% natural origin

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

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-90 GLYCERYL ISOSTEARATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3PEG-90 GLYCERYL ISOSTEARATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PEG-90%20GLYCERYL%20ISOSTEARATE