How we scored it
Where it comes from
Diethylene glycol comes from ethylene oxide; 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol and the isophthalic/sulfoisophthalic acids come from petrochemical xylenes/benzene. No natural-origin route exists for this film-former.
In plain English
A synthetic film-forming polymer used in hairsprays and nail products, built from four different petroleum-derived chemical building blocks. Chemically related to polyester fibres.
CosIng definition: Polyester-5 is a copolymer of diethylene glycol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol and the simple esters of isophthalic acid and sulfoisophthalic acid
Natural alternatives with the same function
A sticky resin tapped from balsam fir trees, used for its piney scent and to form a thin…
Acacia Senegal Gum 100% natural originThe dried gum exuded from the acacia tree, collected by tapping the bark. Used to form a film…
Albumen 100% natural originEgg white. Used in cosmetics to form a film on skin or hair and to help condition them.
Amorphophallus Konjac Root Extract 100% natural originA root extract from the konjac plant that helps form a light film on skin and hair and…
Astragalus Gummifer Gum 100% natural originA natural plant gum, known as tragacanth, harvested from a Middle Eastern shrub. Used as a thickener and…
Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment Extract 100% natural originAn extract of the liquid left after the yeast-like fungus Aureobasidium pullulans is grown on sugars in a…
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.
- 2POLYESTER-5. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3POLYESTER-5. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POLYESTER-5