Database/Antistatic/Polyquaternium-45
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Polyquaternium-45 natural?

No. Both monomers are built on petrochemical methacrylic acid; the glycine pendant group does not change the synthetic polymer backbone classification.

INCI namePolyquaternium-45
CAS221225-18-9
FunctionAntistatic · Film Forming
FeedstockProduced by free-radical copolymerisation of petrochemical methacrylate ester…

How we scored it

Copolymer of a methacrylate-glycine ester monomer and quaternized dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate methosulfate; methacrylate backbone is petrochemical → 0.0.
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

Produced by free-radical copolymerisation of petrochemical methacrylate ester monomers, one carrying a glycine-derived betaine group and the other quaternized with dimethyl sulfate. No natural route exists for this film-forming polymer.

In plain English

A synthetic, positively-charged polymer built from petrochemical methacrylate building blocks. Used in hair styling products to hold style, reduce static, and form a flexible film.

CosIng definition: Glycine, N-methyl-N-[2-[(2-methyl-1-oxo-2-propenyl)oxy]ethyl]-, polymer with 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate, compound with dimethyl sulfate

Natural alternatives with the same function

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 Alanine 100% natural origin

An amino acid used for skin and hair conditioning, part of skin's natural moisturising factor. Made by fermenting…

 Arginine 100% natural origin

An amino acid found in skin and hair proteins, used for conditioning and moisture-binding. Made by fermenting plant…

 Asparagine 100% natural origin

An amino acid made by fermenting plant sugars, similar to other food-fermentation processes. Helps condition hair and skin…

 Aspartic Acid 100% natural origin

An amino acid used for skin conditioning and moisture retention. Usually produced by fermentation or by an enzyme…

 Capryloyl Hydrolyzed Collagen 100% natural origin

Collagen broken into small protein fragments and attached to caprylic acid, an eight-carbon fatty acid from coconut or…

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. 2POLYQUATERNIUM-45. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3POLYQUATERNIUM-45. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POLYQUATERNIUM-45