Database/Antistatic/Quaternium-26
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Quaternium-26 natural?

Mostly. Mink-oil fatty acyl and chloride are natural; the aminopropyl/hydroxyethyl backbone derives from a synthetic amine and ethylene oxide.

INCI nameQuaternium-26
CAS68953-64-0
FunctionAntistatic · Hair Conditioning
FeedstockThe acyl group comes from mink oil fatty…

How we scored it

Mink oil acyl ~C18H33O (265, natural) + Cl (35.5, natural) = 300.5; DMAPA-type backbone C5H13N2 (101.2) + hydroxyethyl C2H5O (45.1) petrochemical = 146.2; 300.5/446.7 = 0.67 (approx, no MW given)
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

The acyl group comes from mink oil fatty acids amidated onto a synthetic dimethylaminopropylamine backbone, then reacted with ethylene oxide. Chloride is the mineral counter-ion.

In plain English

A conditioning ingredient made by combining mink oil fatty acid with a synthetic nitrogen compound, forming a chloride salt. Used in hair and skin products to reduce static and improve feel.

CosIng definition: 1-Propanaminium, 3-amino-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N,N-dimethyl-, N-mink-oil acyl derivs., chlorides

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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-26. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3QUATERNIUM-26. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=QUATERNIUM-26