Database/Binding/Synthetic Carnauba
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Synthetic Carnauba natural?

No. Carnauba-like C24-C34 chains are assumed built from fossil sources (montan wax, ethylene-based Ziegler alcohols or Fischer-Tropsch), not plant carnauba; exact composition unknown.

INCI nameSynthetic Carnauba
FunctionBinding · Emollient
FeedstockAssumed dominant route is a synthetic ester or…

How we scored it

UVCB blend of very-long-chain (C24-C34) esters, acids, alcohols or hydrocarbons; chain lengths beyond oleochemical supply come from montan, Ziegler or Fischer-Tropsch fossil feedstocks. Provisional 0 / total = 0.00.
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

Assumed dominant route is a synthetic ester or hydrocarbon wax blend from montan, Ziegler or Fischer-Tropsch fossil feedstocks designed to mimic carnauba. An oleochemical ester-wax blend is possible but unlikely at carnauba chain lengths; supplier data needed.

In plain English

A man-made wax blend designed to mimic natural carnauba wax, used to harden and add gloss and structure to lipsticks, balms and mascaras. Unlike true carnauba from palm leaves, it is built chemically, most likely from fossil-derived long-chain materials.

CosIng definition: Waxes, carnauba, synthetic

Natural alternatives with the same function

Agar 100% natural origin

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 Algin 100% natural origin

Sodium alginate, a thickening and binding gum extracted from brown seaweed. It's harvested from algae and processed to…

 Alginic Acid 100% natural origin

A gelling and thickening gum extracted from brown seaweed, the acid form of alginate. It's harvested and purified…

 Aluminum Zinc Oxide 100% natural origin

A white mineral powder made from zinc and aluminium oxides. It adds opacity, bulk and absorbency to powders…

 Amylopectin 100% natural origin

A binding and thickening ingredient that is the highly branched component of plant starch, typically sourced from corn,…

 Astragalus Gummifer Gum 100% natural origin

A natural plant gum, known as tragacanth, harvested from a Middle Eastern shrub. Used as a thickener and…

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