Polyglyceryl-2 Distearate ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a nonionic emulsifier and co-emulsifier that helps blend oil and water phases, improve cream structure, and support a smoother skin feel. It is most often used in lotions, creams, sunscreens, and richer emulsions.
What does Polyglyceryl-2 Distearate do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a nonionic emulsifier and co-emulsifier that helps blend oil and water phases, improve cream structure, and support a smoother skin feel. It is most often used in lotions, creams, sunscreens, and richer emulsions.
Is Polyglyceryl-2 Distearate clean?
From a clean beauty perspective, it is generally well-tolerated, not a common allergen, and has little restricted-list friction. The main review point is feedstock transparency, especially when the fatty-acid portion is palm-derived.
Is Polyglyceryl-2 Distearate sustainable?
This material is commonly made from glycerin-derived building blocks and plant or mixed-source fatty acids. It is expected to be biodegradable because it is an ester-based surfactant, with sustainability depending most on responsible sourcing of the fatty-acid supply chain.
Is Polyglyceryl-2 Distearate COSMOS-approved?
It is generally compatible with COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic formulations when made from permitted raw materials and by accepted esterification chemistry. Its Green Chemistry profile is favorable when renewable feedstocks are used, since it is biodegradable and avoids persistent silicone or petrochemical film-former behavior.
How does Polyglyceryl-2 Distearate work chemically?
The molecule is an ester built from a diglycerol-type polyol backbone and two long saturated fatty-acid chains, giving it amphiphilic behavior and a low-to-mid HLB profile. Typical use levels are often about 1–5%, usually added to the heated oil phase, and it is stable across normal cosmetic pH ranges while ester bonds can break down under strongly acidic or alkaline conditions.
Last updated 2026-05-16