How we scored it
Fatty-acid/glycerophosphate/choline lecithin components; phosphate counts natural, whole molecule = 1.0.
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
Typically isolated by extraction/purification of lecithin from soybean, sunflower or egg yolk. Synthetic phosphatidylcholine analogues exist for pharma-style liposome delivery but are a minor share of the cosmetic ingredient market.
In plain English
Fat-like molecules, usually derived from soy, sunflower or egg lecithin, that occur naturally in cell membranes. Used in skincare to condition skin and help stabilise creams and lotions.
CosIng definition: Phospholipids
References
- 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.
- 2PHOSPHOLIPIDS. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3PHOSPHOLIPIDS. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PHOSPHOLIPIDS