Is Polyglyceryl-4 Distearate natural?

Q: Is Polyglyceryl-4 Distearate natural?

Polyglyceryl-4 Distearate has a Natural Origin Index (NOI) of 1.00 (scale 0–1) per ISO 16128. Both glycerin (etherified to tetraglycerin) and stearic acid are natural/oleochemical fragments; no petrochemical mass is added. An NOI of 1.00 means 100% of its molecular mass is traceable to a natural, renewable source.

Yes. Both glycerin (etherified to tetraglycerin) and stearic acid are natural/oleochemical fragments; no petrochemical mass is added.

INCI namePolyglyceryl-4 Distearate

FeedstockMade by etherifying vegetable glycerin to tetraglycerin, then…

How we scored it

Polyglycerin-4 (glycerin oligomer, natural) diesterified with stearic acid (oleochemical, natural); loses only water → 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 etherifying vegetable glycerin to tetraglycerin, then esterifying with vegetable-derived stearic acid. Fully oleochemical route; no petrochemical alternative in common use.

In plain English

An emulsifier and thickener made from plant glycerin and vegetable stearic acid, used to blend oil and water phases in creams.

CosIng definition: Polyglyceryl-4 Distearate is a diester of Polyglycerin-4 with Stearic Acid.

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 DISTEARATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
3POLYGLYCERYL-4 DISTEARATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POLYGLYCERYL-4%20DISTEARATE