Glyceryl Stearate ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a nonionic emulsifier and co-emulsifier that helps blend oil and water phases. It also adds slip, body, and a soft waxy feel to creams, lotions, and balms.
What does Glyceryl Stearate do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a nonionic emulsifier and co-emulsifier that helps blend oil and water phases. It also adds slip, body, and a soft waxy feel to creams, lotions, and balms.
Is Glyceryl Stearate clean?
It is generally well tolerated, has low irritation potential, and is not a common clean-standard restricted-list concern. Clean-beauty scrutiny usually centers on feedstock transparency rather than the molecule itself.
Is Glyceryl Stearate sustainable?
This material is commonly made from glycerin and fatty acids sourced from vegetable oils, often palm, rapeseed, soy, or coconut, with palm traceability being the main supply-chain question. It is expected to be readily biodegradable and is not associated with environmental persistence.
Is Glyceryl Stearate COSMOS-approved?
It can be permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic formulas when made from allowed feedstocks and processed with accepted chemistry. It aligns well with Green Chemistry principles when plant-derived, biodegradable, and manufactured through simple esterification.
How does Glyceryl Stearate work chemically?
The molecule is a glycerol ester of a saturated C18 fatty chain, giving it a waxy, low-HLB profile that supports emulsification and viscosity building. Typical use levels are about 1 to 5 percent, it is usually melted into the oil phase around 55 to 70°C, and it is most stable away from strongly acidic or alkaline conditions.
Last updated 2026-05-13