Isosteearic Acid ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a fatty acid used mainly as an emollient, pigment dispersant, and co-emulsifier. It helps improve slip, cushion, and even color payoff in creams, lip products, sunscreens, and makeup.
What does Isosteearic Acid do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a fatty acid used mainly as an emollient, pigment dispersant, and co-emulsifier. It helps improve slip, cushion, and even color payoff in creams, lip products, sunscreens, and makeup.
Is Isosteearic Acid clean?
It is generally well tolerated, not a common fragrance allergen, and is not a major restricted-list concern in clean-beauty frameworks. Like many fatty acids, it can feel rich on skin, so formula context matters more than the ingredient alone.
Is Isosteearic Acid sustainable?
This material is typically made from vegetable-derived fatty acid feedstocks, though the exact crop source can vary by supplier. It is expected to be biodegradable and has low persistence concerns compared with silicone or fluorinated materials.
Is Isosteearic Acid COSMOS-approved?
It can be permitted in COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic formulations when the raw material source and manufacturing route meet the standard’s requirements. Its Green Chemistry fit is generally favorable because it can come from renewable feedstocks, is biodegradable, and does not require high-concern solvent systems in typical production.
How does Isosteearic Acid work chemically?
The molecule is a branched C18 fatty acid, which gives it better fluidity and oxidative stability than many straight-chain unsaturated fatty acids. It is oil-soluble, usually used at low single-digit percentages for feel or dispersion, and can also be neutralized with bases to form soaps or emulsifying salts.
Last updated 2026-05-16