Database/Antimicrobial/Zinc Salicylate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Zinc Salicylate natural?

Mostly not. Zinc is a natural mineral ion, but salicylic acid is synthesised from petrochemical phenol via the Kolbe-Schmitt reaction.

INCI nameZinc Salicylate
CAS16283-36-6
FunctionAntimicrobial
FeedstockSalicylic acid is manufactured from petrochemical phenol (Kolbe-Schmitt…

How we scored it

Zn 65.4Da (natural mineral) + salicylate x2 137Da each (petrochemical, phenol-derived) = 339.6Da; 65.4/339.6=0.19.
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

Salicylic acid is manufactured from petrochemical phenol (Kolbe-Schmitt synthesis) and neutralised with a zinc mineral salt. Trace natural willow-bark salicylates are not a commercial source.

In plain English

A zinc salt of salicylic acid, a synthetic compound made from petrochemical phenol. Used for its antimicrobial and skin-clarifying properties, with added zinc.

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