Stearyl Alcool ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a waxy structurant, thickener, co-emulsifier, and emollient used to give creams, lotions, conditioners, and balms body, slip, and stability.
What does Stearyl Alcool do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a waxy structurant, thickener, co-emulsifier, and emollient used to give creams, lotions, conditioners, and balms body, slip, and stability.
Is Stearyl Alcool clean?
From a clean beauty perspective, it is generally well tolerated, has low sensitization potential, and is not a common restricted-list concern. It can be confused with drying alcohols by name, but its role and skin feel are very different.
Is Stearyl Alcool sustainable?
This material is commonly sourced from vegetable oils, including palm or coconut, and can also be made from petrochemical feedstocks. It is readily biodegradable, with the main sustainability question usually tied to feedstock traceability and palm certification when applicable.
Is Stearyl Alcool COSMOS-approved?
It can be permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic formulations when the feedstock and processing route meet the standard. Its Green Chemistry profile is strongest when plant-derived, responsibly sourced, and made through simple hydrogenation or reduction chemistry with good biodegradability.
How does Stearyl Alcool work chemically?
The molecule is a saturated C18 linear alcohol with a melting point around 58 to 60 °C, which helps build viscosity and crystalline structure in emulsions. Typical use levels are about 0.5 to 5% in creams and lotions, it is nonionic and broadly pH-stable, and it is more oxidation-resistant than unsaturated lipids.
Last updated 2026-05-13