Database/Film Forming/Polyquaternium-61
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Polyquaternium-61 natural?

Mostly not. Only the phosphate group and the octadecyl fatty chain are natural; the methacrylate backbone and trimethylammonium groups are petrochemical.

INCI namePolyquaternium-61
FunctionFilm Forming · Skin Conditioning
FeedstockCopolymerized from a synthetic phosphorylcholine methacrylate monomer and…

How we scored it

Phosphobetaine methacrylate monomer (~0.32 natural, phosphate only) + octadecyl methacrylate (~0.75 natural, fatty chain) averaged with assumed ~50:50 monomer ratio (not disclosed) → ≈0.45.
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

Copolymerized from a synthetic phosphorylcholine methacrylate monomer and octadecyl (stearyl) methacrylate, the latter carrying a fatty-alcohol-derived chain. Monomer ratio is not disclosed, so this is an estimate.

In plain English

A film-forming polymer used in hair and skin products, built from a phosphate-containing synthetic monomer combined with a fatty (stearyl) acrylate building block.

CosIng definition: 2-Methyl-2-propenoyloxyethyl N,N,N-trimethylammonioethyl phosphate inner salt, polymer with octadecyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate

Natural alternatives with the same function

Abies Balsamea Resin 100% natural origin

A sticky resin tapped from balsam fir trees, used for its piney scent and to form a thin…

 Acacia Senegal Gum 100% natural origin

The dried gum exuded from the acacia tree, collected by tapping the bark. Used to form a film…

 Albumen 100% natural origin

Egg white. Used in cosmetics to form a film on skin or hair and to help condition them.

 Amorphophallus Konjac Root Extract 100% natural origin

A root extract from the konjac plant that helps form a light film on skin and hair and…

 Astragalus Gummifer Gum 100% natural origin

A natural plant gum, known as tragacanth, harvested from a Middle Eastern shrub. Used as a thickener and…

 Aureobasidium Pullulans Ferment Extract 100% natural origin

An extract of the liquid left after the yeast-like fungus Aureobasidium pullulans is grown on sugars in a…

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-61. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3POLYQUATERNIUM-61. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POLYQUATERNIUM-61