Database/Film Forming/Polyquaternium-56
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Polyquaternium-56 natural?

No. Isophorone diisocyanate, 1,3-butanediol and the bis(2-hydroxyethyl) ethoxylated quaternary ammonium monomer are all petrochemical building blocks.

INCI namePolyquaternium-56
FunctionFilm Forming · Hair Conditioning
FeedstockManufactured by polyurethane-type condensation of petrochemical isophorone diisocyanate…

How we scored it

Isophorone diisocyanate + 1,3-butanediol + ethoxylated dimethylammonium methyl sulfate; all monomers petrochemical (isocyanate, glycol, ethoxylated quat) → 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

Manufactured by polyurethane-type condensation of petrochemical isophorone diisocyanate and 1,3-butanediol, then quaternized with an ethoxylated dimethylammonium methyl sulfate. No natural-feedstock route is used.

In plain English

A film-forming conditioning polymer used in hair products to add shine and manageability. It's built from synthetic isocyanate, butanediol and quaternary ammonium building blocks.

CosIng definition: 5-Isocyanato-1-(isocyanatomethyl)-1,3,3-trimethylcyclohexane, polymer with 1,3-butanediol and bis(2-hydroxyethyl)dimethylammonium methyl sulfate

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. 2POLYQUATERNIUM-56. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3POLYQUATERNIUM-56. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POLYQUATERNIUM-56