Stearic Acid
Stearic Acid is a cosmetic ingredient used as a cleansing, surfactant - emulsifying agent. It appears in about 7% of cosmetic products in our 90,000+ product dataset. It is regulated in the EU (listed in a Cosmetics Regulation annex). PubMed carries 407 studies of its skin or topical use.
| INCI name | STEARIC ACID |
| Function | CLEANSING, SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, EMULSION STABILISING, FRAGRANCE |
| CAS number | 57-11-4 |
| EC number | 200-313-4 |
| Prevalence | 6,067 products (6.54% of dataset) |
| Most used in | Skincare |
| EU status | Restricted (annex ) |
| Scientific studies | 407 on PubMed (skin/cosmetic/topical) |
| Monthly searches | 12,100 |
Used in
General Moisturizers 16.7%Face Cleansers 16.5%Body Lotions 8.5%Mascaras 8.2%Sunscreens 7.4%Eye Moisturizers 4%
Frequently asked
- What does Stearic Acid do in skincare?
- Stearic Acid functions as a cleansing, surfactant - emulsifying agent in cosmetic formulas.
- Is Stearic Acid allowed in cosmetics?
- Yes, but it is regulated in the EU — it appears in a Cosmetics Regulation annex with usage conditions.
- What products contain Stearic Acid?
- It is most commonly found in Skincare products, especially general moisturizers (16.7% of its uses).
Manufacturers with experience using Stearic Acid
Match with vetted US contract manufacturers that have hands-on experience formulating with this ingredient.