Database/Emulsion Stabilising/Polypropylene Terephthalate
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Polypropylene Terephthalate natural?

No. Propylene glycol (from propylene oxide) and terephthalic acid (from p-xylene) are both petrochemical; bio-based variants are not significant in cosmetics.

INCI namePolypropylene Terephthalate
FunctionEmulsion Stabilising · Skin Conditioning
FeedstockPolyester of petrochemical propylene glycol and terephthalic acid…

How we scored it

Repeat unit C11H10O4 206 Da = propylene glycol-derived C3H6O2 74 + terephthaloyl C8H4O2 132; both petrochemical; natural 0 / 206 = 0.00.
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

Polyester of petrochemical propylene glycol and terephthalic acid made by polycondensation. Bio-based propylene glycol or terephthalic acid exist but are negligible in cosmetic supply.

In plain English

A polyester made by linking propylene glycol and terephthalic acid into long chains, used to help stabilise emulsions and condition skin. Both building blocks come from petrochemicals.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1-methylethyleneoxy-1,4-phthaloyl)

Natural alternatives with the same function

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