Database/Cleansing/Tocopheryl Phosphate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Tocopheryl Phosphate natural?

It depends. The phosphate group always comes from mineral phosphoric acid, but the tocopherol backbone that carries most of the mass is natural only when it comes from vegetable oil distillate. The previous figure was computed against a molecular weight of about 470 Da, which is too low for the mono-ester.

INCI nameTocopheryl Phosphate
CAS425429-22-7
FunctionCleansing · Emulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockA mixture of phosphate esters of tocopherol. The…

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 tocopherol phosphate esterplant vitamin E + mineral phosphate1.00minority, premium-labelled
synthetic dl-tocopherol phosphate esterpetrochemical dl-tocopherol + mineral phosphate0.16majority, bulk economicsonly the 80.99 Da phosphate group is natural origin
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

The mono-ester is C29H51O5P, 510.70 Da. The phosphate group contributed by phosphoric acid (PO3H2) is 80.99 Da and the tocopheryl fragment is 429.71 Da. With natural plant tocopherol the whole molecule is natural, 1.00. With synthetic dl-alpha-tocopherol only the mineral phosphate counts, 80.99/510.70 = 0.16.
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

A mixture of phosphate esters of tocopherol. The phosphate is mineral-derived in every case. The tocopherol is either recovered from vegetable oil deodoriser distillate or synthesised from petrochemical isophytol, and bulk economics favour the synthetic grade.

In plain English

An antioxidant mixture of vitamin E esters bonded to phosphate, used to protect skin from free radicals. Made from vitamin E, which may be natural or synthetic, and mineral phosphoric acid.

CosIng definition: Tocopheryl Phosphate is a complex mixture of esters of Tocopheryl (q.v.) Phosphoric Acid (q.v.)

Natural alternatives with the same function

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 Arachidic Acid 100% natural origin

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