Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily an anionic emulsifier and co-emulsifier, helping oil and water form stable creams, lotions, and sunscreens. It also supports a smooth skin feel and can improve pigment or mineral dispersion.
What does Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is primarily an anionic emulsifier and co-emulsifier, helping oil and water form stable creams, lotions, and sunscreens. It also supports a smooth skin feel and can improve pigment or mineral dispersion.
Is Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is generally well tolerated and has low irritation potential compared with many stronger anionic surfactants. It is not a common restricted-list concern and is usually viewed as a mild, functional emulsifier.
Is Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate sustainable?
This material is commonly made from fatty acids and amino-acid chemistry, often using plant-derived inputs, though the fatty acid source can vary by supplier. It is readily biodegradable and does not carry notable persistence or bioaccumulation concerns.
Is Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic when the feedstocks and processing meet the standard’s criteria. Its profile fits Green Chemistry well because it can use renewable feedstocks, has good biodegradability, and performs at low use levels.
How does Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate work chemically?
The molecule is an amino-acid-derived anionic amphiphile with a C18 fatty acyl tail and carboxylate head groups, supplied as a neutralized salt for water compatibility. Typical use levels are about 0.1% to 2%, often with fatty alcohols, waxes, or nonionic emulsifiers, and it performs best in mildly acidic to neutral systems while being less compatible with strongly cationic ingredients.
Last updated 2026-05-15