How we scored it
Colourless carotenoid co-produced with phytoene from tomato/algal carotenoid extraction; no significant synthetic cosmetic route.
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
Isolated from tomato oleoresin or carotenogenic algae alongside phytoene, by solvent extraction. No commercially significant synthetic route for cosmetic use.
In plain English
A natural tomato- or algae-derived pigment precursor valued in skincare as an antioxidant that helps shield skin from light and environmental damage.
CosIng definition: Phytofluene is the organic compound that conforms generally to the formula
Structure
(6E,10E,12E,14E,16E,18E,22E,26E)-2,6,10,14,19,23,27,31-octamethyldotriaconta-2,6,10,12,14,16,18,22,26,30-decaene
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.
- 2Phytofluene. PubChem CID 6436722. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
- 3PHYTOFLUENE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 4PHYTOFLUENE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PHYTOFLUENE