Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a nonionic emulsifier and co-emulsifier that helps blend oil and water phases in creams, lotions, and balms. It also adds body and a smoother skin feel to emulsions.
What does Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a nonionic emulsifier and co-emulsifier that helps blend oil and water phases in creams, lotions, and balms. It also adds body and a smoother skin feel to emulsions.
Is Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate clean?
From a clean beauty perspective, it is generally well-tolerated, not a common sensitizer, and has little restricted-list friction. The main caveat is sourcing transparency, especially when the fatty-acid portion comes from palm-derived supply chains.
Is Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate sustainable?
This material is commonly made from plant-derived glycerin and fatty acids, although petrochemical or mixed sourcing can exist depending on supplier. It is expected to be biodegradable, with sustainability quality depending most on renewable feedstock verification and responsible palm certification where relevant.
Is Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate COSMOS-approved?
It is generally permitted under COSMOS natural and organic product standards when made from approved feedstocks and compliant esterification processing. Its fit with Green Chemistry is good because it can use renewable inputs, has low persistence concerns, and is produced through relatively straightforward ester chemistry.
How does Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate work chemically?
The molecule is a nonionic ester built from a short glycerol oligomer and two saturated C18 fatty-acid chains, giving it both water-compatible and oil-compatible regions. It is typically used around 1 to 5% in emulsions, is broadly stable across normal cosmetic pH ranges, and often performs best with fatty alcohols, gums, or additional emulsifiers for viscosity and emulsion robustness.
Last updated 2026-05-13