Database/Skin Conditioning/Triisononanoin
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Triisononanoin natural?

Mostly not. Glycerin backbone is natural, but isononanoic acid is a synthetic branched acid made by petrochemical oxo synthesis from butene.

INCI nameTriisononanoin
CAS56554-53-1
FunctionSkin Conditioning · Viscosity Controlling
FeedstockIsononanoic acid is manufactured from petrochemical diisobutylene via…

How we scored it

Glycerin 92Da (glyceryl residue 89, natural) + 3x isononanoic acid 158Da each (petrochemical oxo-acid) → MW 512.75; 89/512.75=0.17.
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

Isononanoic acid is manufactured from petrochemical diisobutylene via the oxo (hydroformylation) process, then esterified with glycerin. No natural biosynthetic route produces this branched acid commercially.

In plain English

A lightweight, silky emollient made from glycerin and isononanoic acid, a branched synthetic acid manufactured from petrochemical feedstocks. Used to give skincare a smooth, non-greasy feel.

Natural alternatives with the same function

Structure

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. 2Triisononanoin. PubChem CID 92447. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3TRIISONONANOIN. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4TRIISONONANOIN. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=TRIISONONANOIN