Glycol Stearate

Glycol stearate is an oil-soluble ester formed from ethylene glycol and stearic acid used in skincare and cleansing products. It's incorporated to deliver emolliency, add slip, and give formulas an elegant pearlescent appearance.
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Ingredient Snapshot

Overview
An emollient that adds a soft feel and pearly shine to formulas.
Category
Skin Conditioning
Type
Emollient

Ingredient Ratings

Overall Rating

Good

Comedogenic Risk

Low

Skin Benefits

Provides a soft, comfortable skin feel and improves the creaminess of products. Contributes to a smoother-feeling rinse in wash-off formats.

Uses In Skincare & Cosmetics

Frequently found in face washes, body cleansers, and everyday lotions to improve texture and give formulas a creamy, opaque look.

Comedogenic Rating

Glycol Stearate has a comedogenic rating of 2. It has a low likelihood of clogging pores but may not suit all skin types.

Safety

Considered low risk for irritation and commonly used even in cleansers. May feel heavy for some acne-prone users in rich leave-on formulas. No common regulatory restrictions reported.

Is Glycol Stearate a Good Ingredient?

It's Good because it reliably softens skin, improves slip, and contributes desirable texture across many formats, with a broad usage history suggesting low irritation potential at typical concentrations.

Products with Glycol Stearate

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