Database/Emulsifying Surfactant/PPG-5-Ceteth-20
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is PPG-5-Ceteth-20 natural?

Mostly not. Cetyl alcohol chain is oleochemical; the propylene oxide and ethylene oxide chains that make up most of the mass are petrochemical.

INCI namePPG-5-Ceteth-20
CAS9087-53-0
FunctionEmulsifying Surfactant · Cleansing Surfactant
FeedstockMade by reacting cetyl (C16) fatty alcohol, typically…

How we scored it

Cetyl alcohol 242.4 Da (natural) + 5 PO 290.4 Da + 20 EO 881.0 Da (both petrochemical) = 1413.8 Da; 242.4/1413.8 = 0.17
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 cetyl (C16) fatty alcohol, typically from coconut or palm kernel oil, with propylene oxide and ethylene oxide from petroleum feedstocks. A petrochemical (Ziegler/oxo) cetyl alcohol route also exists, which would not change this calculation.

In plain English

An emulsifier and cleansing ingredient that helps oil and water mix in creams and washes. It's built from a fatty alcohol (from coconut or palm oil) combined with two petroleum-derived building blocks, so most of its weight comes from synthetic sources.

CosIng definition: Oxirane, methyl-, polymer with oxirane, hexadecyl ether

Natural alternatives with the same function

Arachidic Acid 100% natural origin

A waxy fatty acid from peanut and other vegetable oils, used to thicken formulas and give creams and…

 Arachidyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A gentle, sugar-based emulsifier used in creams and lotions to stabilize formulas without harsh surfactants. It's made from…

 Behenic Acid 100% natural origin

A long-chain fatty acid from vegetable oil, used to thicken and stabilise creams and conditioners. It is extracted…

 C10-16 Alkyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A mild, sugar-based cleansing and emulsifying surfactant made by combining plant-derived fatty alcohols (coconut/palm) with glucose from starch.…

 C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside 100% natural origin

A mild, sugar-based cleansing ingredient made from coconut or palm fatty alcohols and glucose; helps cleanse skin and…

 C18-36 Acid 100% natural origin

A blend of long-chain plant fatty acids used as a mild cleanser and thickener, giving body and 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. 2PPG-5-CETETH-20. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3PPG-5-CETETH-20. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PPG-5-CETETH-20