How we scored it
Lauryl (C12 fatty) alcohol etherified with tetraglycerol; both natural, condensation water not counted → 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 lauryl alcohol, typically from coconut or palm kernel oil, with tetraglycerol (polymerised glycerin). No petrochemical route is commercially significant.
In plain English
An emulsifier made from coconut-derived lauryl alcohol and glycerin, used to help blend oil and water in creams and lotions.
CosIng definition: 1,2,3-Propanetriol, homopolymer, dodecyl ethers (1:1) (4 mol glycerol average molar ratio)
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 LAURYL ETHER. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3POLYGLYCERYL-4 LAURYL ETHER. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POLYGLYCERYL-4%20LAURYL%20ETHER