Database/Cleansing/Sodium Laureth-6 Carboxylate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Sodium Laureth-6 Carboxylate natural?

Mostly not. Lauryl (C12) alcohol and sodium ion are natural; the ethylene oxide chain and chloroacetate-derived carboxymethyl cap are petrochemical.

INCI nameSodium Laureth-6 Carboxylate
CAS33939-64-9
FunctionCleansing · Foaming
FeedstockMade by ethoxylating coconut/palm lauryl alcohol, then capping…

How we scored it

Lauryl alcohol 186.3 + Na 23.0 Da natural = 209.3; 5×EO 220.3 + CH2COO 58.0 Da petrochemical = 278.3; total 487.6 → 0.43. CosIng states 5 mol EO vs name's 6; formula matches only 1 EO.
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 ethoxylating coconut/palm lauryl alcohol, then capping with sodium chloroacetate to form a carboxylic acid salt. Ethylene oxide and chloroacetate are petrochemical reagents.

In plain English

A mild cleansing surfactant used in shampoos and washes. Made from a coconut/palm fatty alcohol reacted with ethylene oxide and then a petrochemical carboxylic acid group.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-dodecyl-.omega.-carboxymethoxy-, sodium salts (5 mol EO average molar ratio)

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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. 2SODIUM LAURETH-6 CARBOXYLATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3SODIUM LAURETH-6 CARBOXYLATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=SODIUM%20LAURETH-6%20CARBOXYLATE