Database/Humectant/Polyglycerin-3
100% natural origin · ISO 16128

Is Polyglycerin-3 natural?

Yes. Built entirely from glycerin, joined by ether linkages; the water lost in condensation carries no petrochemical mass.

INCI namePolyglycerin-3
CAS56090-54-1
FormulaC9H20O7 · 240.25 Da
FunctionHumectant
FeedstockMade by base-catalysed polymerisation of glycerin (glycerol), typically…

How we scored it

Three glycerin units (C3H8O3, 92Da each) joined by ether bonds with loss of condensation water; every atom in the product traces back to glycerin = 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

Made by base-catalysed polymerisation of glycerin (glycerol), typically sourced from vegetable oil splitting or fermentation. No petrochemical monomers are involved.

In plain English

A humectant made by linking several plant-derived glycerin molecules together. It draws moisture into skin and hair while feeling lighter and less sticky than glycerin alone.

Structure

2D structure of Polyglycerin-3

3-[3-(2,3-dihydroxypropoxy)-2-hydroxypropoxy]propane-1,2-diol

PubChem CID 92007 ↗

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. 2Polyglycerin-3. PubChem CID 92007. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3POLYGLYCERIN-3. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4POLYGLYCERIN-3. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POLYGLYCERIN-3