Database/Antioxidant/Tocopheryl Dimethylglycinate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Tocopheryl Dimethylglycinate natural?

It depends. Tocopherol is either natural d-alpha from vegetable-oil distillate or synthetic dl-alpha from isophytol; dimethylglycine is synthetic from chloroacetic acid and dimethylamine.

INCI nameTocopheryl Dimethylglycinate
CAS124508-70-9
FunctionAntioxidant · Skin Conditioning
FeedstockDominant route likely esterifies synthetic dl-alpha-tocopherol (trimethylhydroquinone plus…

Why the score varies

This ingredient is made commercially by more than one route, and ISO 16128 scores the feedstock actually used. Without a supplier certificate of origin the value cannot be claimed.

RouteFeedstockNOIShareNotes
Natural d-alpha-tocopherol esterified with synthetic dimethylglycinevegetable-oil deodoriser distillate + chloroacetic acid/dimethylamine0.83~15%
Synthetic dl-alpha-tocopherol esterified with dimethylglycinetrimethylhydroquinone + isophytol (petrochemical)0.00~85%
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Natural route: tocopheryl C29H49O2 429.7 + dimethylglycyl C4H8NO 86.1 (synthetic) = 515.8; 429.7/515.8 = 0.83. Synthetic dl-tocopherol route: 0.0.
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

Dominant route likely esterifies synthetic dl-alpha-tocopherol (trimethylhydroquinone plus isophytol) with dimethylglycine, giving 0.0. Natural d-alpha tocopherol from vegetable-oil distillate gives 0.83 but is the minor route.

In plain English

An ester of vitamin E (tocopherol) with dimethylglycine, used as an antioxidant and skin conditioner. The vitamin E may come from vegetable oils or be made synthetically, while the dimethylglycine part is synthetic.

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