Glyceryl Steearate ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily a nonionic emulsifier and co-emulsifier, helping oil and water phases stay blended in creams and lotions. It also adds body, improves slip, and gives formulas a softer, more cushioned feel.
What does Glyceryl Steearate do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is primarily a nonionic emulsifier and co-emulsifier, helping oil and water phases stay blended in creams and lotions. It also adds body, improves slip, and gives formulas a softer, more cushioned feel.
Is Glyceryl Steearate clean?
It is generally well tolerated, low in sensitization concern, and not a common clean-standard restricted-list issue. Clean-beauty scrutiny is usually about feedstock sourcing and processing quality rather than skin compatibility.
Is Glyceryl Steearate sustainable?
This material is commonly derived from vegetable or mixed fatty feedstocks, with palm-linked supply chains possible unless specified by the supplier. It is expected to be readily biodegradable and has low environmental persistence compared with many synthetic film-formers or silicones.
Is Glyceryl Steearate COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted in COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic products when the raw materials and processing meet the standard. Its fit with Green Chemistry is strong when made from renewable fatty feedstocks through simple ester chemistry and supported by biodegradability.
How does Glyceryl Steearate work chemically?
The molecule is a waxy monoester built from a three-carbon polyol backbone and a C18 saturated fatty-acid chain, giving it low water solubility and useful oil-phase structuring behavior. It is typically used around 1 to 5% as a co-emulsifier or thickener, is heated into the oil phase during manufacture, and is most stable away from strongly acidic or alkaline conditions.
Last updated 2026-05-13