How we scored it
Where it comes from
Synthetic quaternised silicone made from silicon metal, methyl chloride and organic side-chain reagents. The exact structure, and whether any fatty or glycerol-derived groups are present, is unconfirmed.
In plain English
A silicone with positively charged ammonium groups attached, which helps it cling to hair and skin. Used as a conditioning ingredient. It is a synthetic, factory-made compound built on a silicone backbone (silicon from sand plus carbon groups from chemical synthesis), not plant-derived.
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References
- 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.
- 2SILICONE QUATERNIUM-20. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3SILICONE QUATERNIUM-20. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=SILICONE%20QUATERNIUM-20