Database/Hair Conditioning/PPG-12 Dimethicone
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is PPG-12 Dimethicone natural?

No. Both the silicone backbone and the polypropylene oxide side chain are treated as non-natural: silicones by this site's convention, PPG as a petrochemical building block.

INCI namePPG-12 Dimethicone
CAS68440-66-4
FunctionHair Conditioning · Skin Conditioning
FeedstockMade by reacting a dimethicone silicone fluid with…

How we scored it

Silicone (dimethicone) backbone = 0.0 by this site's convention; polypropylene glycol (12 units) side chain is also petrochemical. No natural fragment. 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

Made by reacting a dimethicone silicone fluid with polypropylene glycol, a petrochemical polyether, to add 12 propoxy units. Neither the silicone backbone nor the PPG chain has a natural-origin route.

In plain English

A silicone-based conditioning ingredient with a small petrochemical polypropylene glycol chain attached. Used in haircare and skincare products to add slip and a smooth, silky feel.

CosIng definition: Polyoxypropylene(12) dimethicone

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. 2PPG-12 DIMETHICONE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3PPG-12 DIMETHICONE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PPG-12%20DIMETHICONE