Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate

TL;DR. This ingredient is a nonionic emulsifier and solubilizer that helps blend oil and water phases in creams, lotions, cleansers, and light emulsions. It can also improve texture and help disperse lipophilic ingredients evenly.

What does Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate do in a cosmetic formula?

This ingredient is a nonionic emulsifier and solubilizer that helps blend oil and water phases in creams, lotions, cleansers, and light emulsions. It can also improve texture and help disperse lipophilic ingredients evenly.

Is Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate clean?

From a clean-beauty perspective, it is generally well tolerated, low in sensitization concern, and not a common restricted-list ingredient. Quality depends on compliant manufacturing and low residual processing byproducts, but it is typically viewed as unproblematic.

Is Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate sustainable?

This material is usually made from glycerin and plant-derived fatty acids, though the fatty-acid source can involve palm or coconut supply chains. It is expected to be biodegradable and has low environmental persistence compared with silicone or fluorinated materials.

Is Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate COSMOS-approved?

It is generally permitted in COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic formulas when made from approved natural-origin feedstocks and compliant esterification processes. It fits Green Chemistry reasonably well because it can use renewable inputs, has good biodegradability, and performs without petrochemical solvents in many production routes.

How does Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate work chemically?

The molecule is a nonionic amphiphile with a hydrophilic polyglycerol head group and a saturated long-chain acyl tail, giving it a high-HLB profile suited to oil-in-water emulsions. Typical use levels are often around 1 to 5 percent, and it is broadly stable across normal cosmetic pH ranges when protected from excessive heat and strong acid or alkaline conditions.

Last updated 2026-05-13