c18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily an oil-phase structurant and thickener, helping turn oils into balms, sticks, and more stable creams. It also adds slip, cushion, and a soft waxy feel without much greasiness.
What does c18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is primarily an oil-phase structurant and thickener, helping turn oils into balms, sticks, and more stable creams. It also adds slip, cushion, and a soft waxy feel without much greasiness.
Is c18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient is generally low-friction, with low irritation potential and no common restricted-list concerns. The main watchpoint is feedstock transparency, since its fatty components may come from palm, castor, coconut, or other lipid sources.
Is c18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate sustainable?
This material is typically made from long-chain fatty acids and alcohols that can be plant-derived, although sourcing varies by supplier. It is expected to be biodegradable like other fatty esters, and its sustainability profile depends mainly on responsible agricultural sourcing and traceability.
Is c18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate COSMOS-approved?
It can align with COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic formulations when made from approved natural-origin feedstocks through permitted esterification chemistry. From a Green Chemistry lens, it fits reasonably well when renewable lipid feedstocks are used, with good biodegradability and no need for highly persistent silicone or petrochemical structuring agents.
How does c18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate work chemically?
The molecule is a high-molecular-weight, long-chain fatty ester with saturated it chains and hydroxylated fatty-acid functionality, which gives it wax-like crystallinity and oil-gelling behavior. It is usually used in the oil phase of anhydrous balms, sticks, emulsions, and color cosmetics, often around low single-digit to mid-teen percentages depending on the firmness and payoff needed.
Last updated 2026-05-13