Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/Polyglyceryl-5 Isostearate
100% natural origin · ISO 16128

Is Polyglyceryl-5 Isostearate natural?

Yes. Isostearic acid comes from isomerising natural oleic acid; pentaglycerol is polymerised glycerin — both natural feedstocks.

INCI namePolyglyceryl-5 Isostearate
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockMade by esterifying isostearic acid, derived from oleochemical…

How we scored it

Isostearic acid (branched oleochemical fatty acid) esterified with pentaglycerol; both 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

Made by esterifying isostearic acid, derived from oleochemical oleic acid via isomerisation, with pentaglycerol. No petrochemical route is commercially significant.

In plain English

An emulsifier made from a branched vegetable-oil fatty acid and glycerin, helping blend oil and water together in formulas.

CosIng definition: 1,2,3-Propanetriol, homopolymer, isooctadecanoates (1:1) (5 mol glycerol average molar ratio)

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. 2POLYGLYCERYL-5 ISOSTEARATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3POLYGLYCERYL-5 ISOSTEARATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POLYGLYCERYL-5%20ISOSTEARATE