Stearic acid

Stearic acid

Low hazardMolecular weight 284.5

What does Stearic acid do for skin?

An 18:0 saturated free fatty acid. Contributes to lamellar packing; distinguish from the soap-type stearate.

Dose on file: N/A

Is Stearic acid safe in skincare?

Low hazardHazard 2/10

CIR safe as used

Based on

  • Reference: CIR

    Safe as used · CIR: safe as used at reported concentrations.

Is Stearic acid classified as a carcinogen?

Only four bodies count here: IARC, EU CLP, US NTP and California Prop 65.

Not classified by IARC, EU CLP, US NTP, or California Prop 65.

How is Stearic acid regulated?

Cosmetic ingredient

Not found on any prescription-drug, professional-treatment, or US OTC monograph list, so it is treated as a cosmetic ingredient. This is a passive default ("not on any known restricted list"), not an individually verified positive finding.

Stearic acid benefits for skin, by concern

These raw scores are only shown here, in the ingredient dictionary.

  • Barrier Strengthening and Recovery5.0

    Dose on file: N/A

    Rated on structure and mixed-formulation evidence. The stand-alone clinical effective % is N/A, and 5.0 does not mean better than other lipids.

    • Reference: CIR, 2015
    • Reference: Man et al., 1996
    • Reference: Zettersten et al., 1997

Products that list this ingredient

992 products in our catalog list this ingredient. Here are the 12 with the most reviews.

Sources (4)

  • Reference: CIR, 2015
  • Reference: Man et al., 1996
  • Reference: Zettersten et al., 1997
  • Reference: CIR

Red does not mean poison. Preservatives that stop a product going off, UV filters and fragrance can land on yellow or red depending on their score.

Green does not mean right for you. Skin and allergies differ from person to person. Treat the color as a starting point.