Database/Antistatic/Polyquaternium-67
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Polyquaternium-67 natural?

Mostly. The cellulose backbone, the dodecyl chain and the chloride counter-ions of both quaternising reagents are natural origin. The hydroxyethyl groups from ethylene oxide and the glycidyl-ammonium parts of the cationic reagents are petrochemical.

INCI namePolyquaternium-67
FunctionAntistatic · Film Forming
FeedstockBuilt on a hydroxyethylcellulose backbone made from wood…

How we scored it

Per glucose unit: cellulose 162 Da natural, plus hydroxyethyl groups at MS 2.0 (88 Da, petrochemical), plus a trimethylammonium glycidyl quat at DS 0.15 (23 Da, of which the chloride share is 0.15 x 35.45 = 5.32 Da natural), plus a dodecyl quat at DS 0.02 (about 6 Da, of which 0.02 x 169.33 = 3.39 Da dodecyl and 0.02 x 35.45 = 0.71 Da chloride are natural). Natural 162 + 5.32 + 3.39 + 0.71 = 171.42 Da of 279 Da, so 171.42/279 = 0.61.
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

Built on a hydroxyethylcellulose backbone made from wood or cotton cellulose reacted with ethylene oxide, then modified with two quaternary ammonium chloride reagents, one of which carries a coconut-type dodecyl tail. Substitution levels are not published and were assumed.

In plain English

A conditioning polymer built from plant cellulose that has been chemically modified to add a mild static-reducing, hair-smoothing effect. Used in shampoos and conditioners for softness and manageability.

CosIng definition: 2-Hydroxyethyl cellulose ether, reaction products with N,N,N-trimethyl-N-oxiranylmethylammonium chloride and N-dodecyl-N,N-dimethyl-N-oxiranylmethylammonium chloride

Natural alternatives with the same function

Acronychia Acidula Fruit Extract 100% natural origin

An extract of lemon aspen, an Australian native fruit, used to condition skin and hair and help hold…

 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-67. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3POLYQUATERNIUM-67. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POLYQUATERNIUM-67