Glycol Montanate ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a waxy structurant and viscosity builder, used to add body, firmness, slip, and film formation in sticks, color cosmetics, creams, and hair products.
What does Glycol Montanate do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a waxy structurant and viscosity builder, used to add body, firmness, slip, and film formation in sticks, color cosmetics, creams, and hair products.
Is Glycol Montanate clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is not a major skin-sensitization concern because it is a high-molecular-weight, low-reactivity wax ester. The main friction is its synthetic and fossil-derived profile, rather than a typical irritation or allergen issue.
Is Glycol Montanate sustainable?
This material is commonly sourced from refined fossil wax obtained from lignite, so it is nonrenewable and tied to mining. Its waxy, water-insoluble nature means biodegradation is expected to be slower than simple plant oils or fatty alcohols.
Is Glycol Montanate COSMOS-approved?
It is not typically permitted under COSMOS-organic or COSMOS-natural because it is fossil-derived and chemically esterified. Its Green Chemistry fit is weak, with nonrenewable feedstock and limited biodegradability as the main drawbacks.
How does Glycol Montanate work chemically?
The molecule is a long-chain ester made from very high-carbon fatty acid fractions and a glycol, giving it a high melting, hydrophobic, crystalline wax character. It is used at low to moderate levels as a structurant or film-former, is stable across normal cosmetic pH ranges, and is best dispersed into the heated oil phase rather than added to water.
Last updated 2026-05-16