Cholesteryl Hydroxystearate ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a waxy emollient and skin-conditioning agent that helps soften feel, improve slip, and add cushion to creams, balms, sticks, and lip products. It can also support viscosity and a smoother film on skin.
What does Cholesteryl Hydroxystearate do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a waxy emollient and skin-conditioning agent that helps soften feel, improve slip, and add cushion to creams, balms, sticks, and lip products. It can also support viscosity and a smoother film on skin.
Is Cholesteryl Hydroxystearate clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is generally low-irritation and not a common restricted-list issue. The main caveat is source transparency, since it may be derived from animal-origin sterols or supplied through specialty synthetic routes.
Is Cholesteryl Hydroxystearate sustainable?
This material is typically made from a sterol component esterified with a fatty acid, with sourcing that can vary by supplier. It is expected to be more biodegradable than persistent silicone films, but its sustainability profile depends on traceable feedstocks and responsible animal-derived or alternative sterol sourcing.
Is Cholesteryl Hydroxystearate COSMOS-approved?
It may be acceptable in COSMOS-natural formulations when made from permitted natural-origin feedstocks through allowed esterification chemistry, but supplier documentation is needed. Its Green Chemistry fit is moderate, with a biodegradable ester structure but variable renewable sourcing and processing transparency.
How does Cholesteryl Hydroxystearate work chemically?
The molecule is a sterol fatty ester, combining a rigid sterol backbone with a long-chain hydroxy fatty acid segment, which explains its waxy, cushiony, film-forming feel. It is oil-dispersible rather than water-soluble, stable across typical anhydrous and emulsion conditions, and is commonly used as a texture and conditioning lipid in low to moderate percentages depending on the desired payoff.
Last updated 2026-05-13