Database/Emulsion Stabilising/Starch/Acrylates Crosspolymer
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Starch/Acrylates Crosspolymer natural?

Mostly not. Starch (maize, potato or similar) is natural origin; acrylic acid, methacrylate esters and the trimethylolpropane triacrylate crosslinker are petrochemical.

INCI nameStarch/Acrylates Crosspolymer
FunctionEmulsion Stabilising · Film Forming
FeedstockStarch from maize or potato is polymerised with…

How we scored it

Assume 1 anhydroglucose unit (C6H10O5, 162.1) per 3 acrylic acid units (C3H4O2, 72.06 each = 216.2); crosslinker ~1% ignored; 162.1 / 378.3 = 0.43.
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

Starch from maize or potato is polymerised with petrochemical acrylic and methacrylic monomers and crosslinked with trimethylolpropane triacrylate. CosIng gives no ratio, so about 40% starch by mass was assumed and the result is approximate.

In plain English

A hybrid polymer in which starch chains carry petrochemical acrylic acid chains, lightly crosslinked together. It swells in water to thicken and stabilise emulsions, and forms a film that gives hold in hair products.

CosIng definition: Starch/Acrylates Crosspolymer is a polymer of starch and acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or one of their simple esters, crosslinked with Trimethylolpropane Triacrylate.

Natural alternatives with the same function

Aluminum Behenate 100% natural origin

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 Aluminum Distearate 100% natural origin

An aluminium salt of stearic acid, a fatty acid from vegetable oil or animal fat. Used in powders…

 Aluminum Isostearates/Laurates/Stearates 100% natural origin

A mixed aluminium soap of isostearic, lauric and stearic fatty acids. It thickens oils, stops powders from caking,…

 Aluminum Lanolate 100% natural origin

An aluminium soap of lanolin, wool fat, fatty acids. Used as a thickener and stabiliser to help creams…

 Aluminum Myristate 100% natural origin

The aluminium salt of myristic acid, a fatty acid from coconut or palm kernel oil. Used to control…

 Aluminum Stearate 100% natural origin

An aluminium salt of stearic acid, a fatty acid from vegetable or animal fat. Used to prevent caking,…

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