Database/Emollient/PPG-4 Myristyl Ether
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is PPG-4 Myristyl Ether natural?

Mostly not. Myristyl group from coconut/palm fatty alcohol; the 4-unit polypropylene glycol chain is entirely petrochemical.

INCI namePPG-4 Myristyl Ether
CAS63793-60-2
FunctionEmollient · Skin Conditioning
FeedstockMade by ring-opening polymerisation of petrochemical propylene oxide…

How we scored it

Myristyl C14H30O (214, natural) + 4xC3H6O PPG chain (232, petrochemical) = 447 Da; 214/447=0.48. Supplied formula/MW/IUPAC (C23H48O4, 388.6) actually describe PPG-3; used n=4 from the ingredient name.
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 ring-opening polymerisation of petrochemical propylene oxide onto oleochemical myristyl (C14) alcohol. No natural alternative exists for the polyether chain itself.

In plain English

An emollient made by reacting myristyl fatty alcohol, usually from coconut or palm, with propylene oxide, a petrochemical building block, to form a short polyether chain. Softens and conditions skin in formulations.

CosIng definition: Poly[oxy(methyl-1,2-ethanediyl)], .alpha.-tetradecyl-.omega.-hydroxy-

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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-4 MYRISTYL ETHER. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3PPG-4 MYRISTYL ETHER. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PPG-4%20MYRISTYL%20ETHER