Stearyl Behenate ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a solid emollient and texture builder that adds slip, cushion, and structure to balms, sticks, creams, and color cosmetics. It can also help firm anhydrous formulas and reduce a greasy feel.
What does Stearyl Behenate do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a solid emollient and texture builder that adds slip, cushion, and structure to balms, sticks, creams, and color cosmetics. It can also help firm anhydrous formulas and reduce a greasy feel.
Is Stearyl Behenate clean?
It is generally viewed as low-friction in clean beauty because it is a non-fragrant wax ester with low irritation potential and no common restricted-list concern. Sensitivity is uncommon, though formula feel can be heavy in richer products.
Is Stearyl Behenate sustainable?
This material is typically made from long-chain fatty alcohol and fatty acid feedstocks that may be plant-derived, often with palm, rapeseed, or other vegetable oil supply-chain links. It is expected to biodegrade over time, but sourcing transparency matters when palm-derived inputs are used.
Is Stearyl Behenate COSMOS-approved?
It can be permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic when made from approved natural-origin feedstocks using allowed esterification chemistry. From a Green Chemistry view, it aligns well when renewable inputs, responsible sourcing, and efficient processing are used.
How does Stearyl Behenate work chemically?
The molecule is a C40 saturated wax ester, highly lipophilic, water-insoluble, and solid at room temperature, with a melting range commonly around the mid-60s °C depending on grade. It is typically used in the oil phase at about 0.5% to 10%, is stable across normal cosmetic pH ranges, and has good oxidation stability because it contains no unsaturated bonds.
Last updated 2026-05-13