Database/Hair Conditioning/Polyquaternium-52
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Polyquaternium-52 natural?

No. Backbone monomers (methacrylate, acrylamide, PEG-methacrylate, diethyl sulfate) are all petrochemical; any natural fatty-acyl pendant is a minor, unspecified substituent.

INCI namePolyquaternium-52
FunctionHair Conditioning
FeedstockA synthetic acrylate/PEG copolymer built from petrochemical monomers…

How we scored it

All named monomers are petrochemical: DMAEMA (quaternised), dimethylacrylamide, acyl-PEG methacrylate backbone, diethyl sulfate quaternising agent -> ~0/total = 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

A synthetic acrylate/PEG copolymer built from petrochemical monomers (DMAEMA, dimethylacrylamide, acyl-PEG methacrylate) and quaternised with diethyl sulfate. No dominant natural fragment is present in the defined structure.

In plain English

A synthetic conditioning polymer built from acrylate and PEG (ethylene oxide) building blocks, given a permanent positive charge. Used in hair care to improve conditioning and manageability.

CosIng definition: 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate, polymer with N,N-dimethly-2-propenamide and C1-30-acylpoly(oxyethylene) 2-methyl-2-propenoate, quaternised with diethyl sulfate

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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-52. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3POLYQUATERNIUM-52. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POLYQUATERNIUM-52