How we scored it
Polyglycerin-4 (glycerol oligomer, natural; condensation water not petroleum mass) esterified with coconut-derived caprylic/capric acids; both fragments natural = 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
Polyglycerin-4 is made by base-catalysed polymerisation of vegetable glycerin, then esterified with caprylic/capric acids from coconut or palm kernel oil. No petrochemical route is commercially used.
In plain English
A cleansing and dispersing ingredient made by combining plant glycerin with coconut-derived caprylic and capric fatty acids. Used to help other ingredients blend and to cleanse skin.
CosIng definition: Polyglyceryl-4 Caprylate/Caprate is the monoester of Polyglycerin-4 and a mixture of caprylic and capric acids.
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.
- 2POLYGLYCERYL-4 CAPRYLATE/CAPRATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3POLYGLYCERYL-4 CAPRYLATE/CAPRATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POLYGLYCERYL-4%20CAPRYLATE/CAPRATE