CASTOR OIL PROPANEDIOL ESTERS

Substance information

Ingredient on the basis of castor oil (ricinus communis seed oil). "Propanediol" refers to 1,3-propanediol as alcoholic component of this ingredient. "Ester" or "esters" refers to an esterification product (condensation product of alcohol and acid) or a trans-esterification product obtained through direct reaction of fats (mostly triglycerides) with alcohols.

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Function(s) of this ingredient in cosmetic products

HAIR CONDITIONING

Leaves the hair easy to comb, supple, soft and shiny and / or imparts volume

SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT

Softens and smoothens the skin

SOLVENT

Dissolves other substances

SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING

Allows the formation of finely dispersed mixtures of oil and water (emulsions)

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Origin

synthetic plant/synthetic synthetic/plant (Information may exclusively reflect the status at initial entry of this ingredient into the relevant INCI dictionary; technological progress may have added new manufacturing options based on substances of different origin)

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Background information on use in cosmetics

Castor oil (INCI: RICINUS COMMUNIS SEED OIL) is obtained from the seeds of the miracle tree. Castor oil is characterised by a very high content of a special fatty acid: ricinoleic acid, a C18 fatty acid which has at C12 a hydroxyl group and at C-9 a double bond. The oil is in many cases processed further semi-synthetically to solubilizers, surfactants, emulsifiers and consistency enhancers. Emulsifiers are often used in cosmetics as excipients. They allow actually unmixable components like oil and water to be brought in a permanently stable emulsion. In this way both aqueous and oily care and active ingredients can be used in one and the same product in cosmetics. Emulsifiers are able to do that since their molecules consist of a lipophilic and a hydrophilic part. In this way they can reduce the interfacial tension which actually exists between two incompatible substances like fat and water. Emulsifiers are, more particularly, used for creams, lotions and cleansing agents. At present emulsifiers are, however, more than only excipients which keep an emulsion stable. Fatty acid esters on the basis of sugar, lecithin or glycerin monodistearate contribute, for instance, to improving the moisture balance of the skin and are, therefore, also considered as cosmetic active ingredients.

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Belongs to the following substance groups

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Regulating cosmetics

Cosmetics Ingredients are subject to regulation. Please note, different regulations may apply to cosmetic ingredients outside the EU.