How we scored it
Homopolymer of 12-hydroxystearic acid (castor-oil derived); self-esterification only, no petrochemical fragment added -> 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 self-condensation (polyesterification) of 12-hydroxystearic acid, which is derived from castor oil. No petrochemical monomer is involved.
In plain English
An emulsifier derived from castor oil, made by linking together castor-oil fatty acid units, used to stabilise water-in-oil formulas.
CosIng definition: 12-Hydroxyoctadecanoic acid, homopolymer
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.
- 2POLYHYDROXYSTEARIC ACID. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3POLYHYDROXYSTEARIC ACID. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POLYHYDROXYSTEARIC%20ACID