Database/Film Forming/Polyquaternium-68
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Polyquaternium-68 natural?

No. All three monomers trace to petrochemical vinyl and imidazole synthesis, plus dimethyl-sulfate quaternisation; no natural building block is present.

INCI namePolyquaternium-68
FunctionFilm Forming · Hair Fixing
FeedstockA cationic terpolymer of N-vinylpyrrolidone, 1-vinylimidazole and its…

How we scored it

Three monomers (vinylpyrrolidone, vinylimidazole, vinyl-methylimidazolium methosulfate) are all petrochemical vinyl/heterocycle chemistry regardless of ratio; no natural-origin fragment identified. 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 cationic terpolymer of N-vinylpyrrolidone, 1-vinylimidazole and its methosulfate-quaternised form, made from petrochemical vinyl monomers and dimethyl sulfate. No natural or mineral fragment is present in the repeat units.

In plain English

A synthetic polymer that forms a film on hair to help hold a style in place. Built entirely from lab-made vinyl building blocks, with no plant or animal content.

CosIng definition: 1-Ethenyl-2-pyrrolidinone, polymer with 1-ethenylimidazole and 1-ethenyl-3-methylimidazolium methyl sulfate

Natural alternatives with the same function

Abies Balsamea Resin 100% natural origin

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 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

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 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-68. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3POLYQUATERNIUM-68. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POLYQUATERNIUM-68