Database/Emollient/Propylene Glycol Diisostearate
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Propylene Glycol Diisostearate natural?

Mostly. Isostearic acid is oleochemical (from oleic acid of vegetable oils); propylene glycol is made from petrochemical propylene oxide.

INCI namePropylene Glycol Diisostearate
CAS68958-54-3
FormulaC39H76O4 · 609.0 Da
FunctionEmollient
FeedstockIsostearic acid, made by isomerising oleic acid from…

How we scored it

C39H76O4 609.0: 2 isostearoyl C18H35O 535.0 natural; propylene glycol diyl-dioxy C3H6O2 74.1 petrochemical; 535.0 / 609.0 = 0.88.
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

Isostearic acid, made by isomerising oleic acid from vegetable oils (or tallow), is esterified with propylene glycol from petroleum propylene oxide. Supplier note: bio-based propylene glycol from glycerin would give 1.0, but the site this site's method scores propylene glycol as petrochemical.

In plain English

A rich, slip-giving emollient oil that softens skin and gives creams, lipsticks and balms a smooth, cushioned feel. It is the diester of propylene glycol and isostearic acid, a branched fatty acid from vegetable oil.

Natural alternatives with the same function

Acacia Dealbata Flower Wax 100% natural origin

A soft wax from mimosa flowers used to condition skin and add emollience. It is derived directly from…

 Acrocomia Aculeata Seed Butter 100% natural origin

A solid plant fat obtained from the seeds of the macauba palm, a South American tree, used to…

 Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract 100% natural origin

An extract made from kiwi fruit, used in cosmetics as a skin-conditioning and softening ingredient. Comes directly from…

 Actinidia Chinensis Seed Oil 100% natural origin

A plant oil pressed from kiwi seeds, used to soften and condition skin. It's a natural vegetable oil…

 Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract 100% natural origin

An extract of baobab fruit, from the African baobab tree. Used as an emollient to soften and smooth…

 Adansonia Digitata Oil 100% natural origin

A rich vegetable oil pressed from the baobab tree's fruit pulp and leaves. Used to soften and condition…

Structure

2D structure of Propylene Glycol Diisostearate

2-(16-methylheptadecanoyloxy)propyl 16-methylheptadecanoate

PubChem CID 111927 ↗

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. 2Propylene Glycol Diisostearate. PubChem CID 111927. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3PROPYLENE GLYCOL DIISOSTEARATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4PROPYLENE GLYCOL DIISOSTEARATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PROPYLENE%20GLYCOL%20DIISOSTEARATE