Hydrogenated Castor Oil[1][2] ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is mainly used as an oil-phase thickener, waxy structurant, and stabilizer in balms, sticks, creams, and color cosmetics. It helps raise viscosity, improve payoff, and give formulas a firmer, less greasy feel.
What does Hydrogenated Castor Oil[1][2] do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is mainly used as an oil-phase thickener, waxy structurant, and stabilizer in balms, sticks, creams, and color cosmetics. It helps raise viscosity, improve payoff, and give formulas a firmer, less greasy feel.
Is Hydrogenated Castor Oil[1][2] clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient is generally well tolerated, low in sensitization concerns, and not a common restricted-list issue. The main quality point is good purification and control of any processing residues from hydrogenation.
Is Hydrogenated Castor Oil[1][2] sustainable?
This material is typically plant-derived and based on a renewable oil crop, with good biodegradability compared with many synthetic structuring agents. Sustainability depends on agricultural practices, traceability, and responsible sourcing of the original crop.
Is Hydrogenated Castor Oil[1][2] COSMOS-approved?
It is generally compatible with COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic formulas when the feedstock and hydrogenation process meet the standard’s requirements. It fits Green Chemistry reasonably well because it is renewable, stable, and biodegradable, although hydrogenation is an added processing step.
How does Hydrogenated Castor Oil[1][2] work chemically?
The molecule is a saturated triglyceride wax dominated by hydroxylated C18 fatty acid chains, with a high melting point typically around 85 to 88°C. It is water-insoluble, oil-dispersible, oxidation-resistant, and commonly used around 0.5% to 10% depending on whether the goal is viscosity adjustment, suspension, or stick structure.
Last updated 2026-05-13