Database/Viscosity Controlling/Quaternium-18 Bentonite
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Quaternium-18 Bentonite natural?

Mostly. Bentonite clay exchanged with a ditallow dimethyl ammonium cation. The clay lattice and the two tallow-derived C18 chains are natural; only the dimethylated nitrogen head (from synthetic ammonia and methyl chloride) is petrochemical, and it is a small share of the whole organoclay.

INCI nameQuaternium-18 Bentonite
CAS68953-58-2
FunctionViscosity Controlling
FeedstockMined bentonite (montmorillonite) treated with dihydrogenated-tallow dimethyl ammonium…

How we scored it

Organoclay of about 38 wt% quaternium-18 cation C38H80N 551.1 Da on 62 wt% bentonite (mineral, natural). In the cation the two hydrogenated tallow alkyl chains 2×253.5 = 507.0 Da are natural and only the N(CH3)2 head 44.1 Da is petrochemical; petrochemical share = 0.38 × 44.1/551.1 = 0.030 → NOI 0.97. Same approach as Quaternium-18 Hectorite.
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

Mined bentonite (montmorillonite) treated with dihydrogenated-tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride, which displaces the clay's sodium ions.

In plain English

A thickener used to gel oils and stabilize products. Made from natural clay treated with a compound derived from animal fat and a small amount of synthetic ammonium chemistry.

CosIng definition: Quaternary ammonium compounds, bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)dimethyl, salts with bentonite

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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. 2QUATERNIUM-18 BENTONITE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3QUATERNIUM-18 BENTONITE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=QUATERNIUM-18%20BENTONITE