Stearic Acid

Rating:good

INCI name

  • STEARIC ACID,

Alternative names

  • Stearinsäure,
  • Acidum Stearinicum,
  • Octadecansäure,
  • Stearinsäure (E570),
  • Stearin Säure,

Origin

  • synthetic,

Definition

  • Stearic acid,

INCI function

  • emulsifying,
  • emulsion stabilising,
  • lipid-replenishing,
  • cleansing,

Substance category

No information available

Characteristics

  • promotes the formation of intimate mixtures of immiscible liquids by changing their interfacial tension
  • supports the emulsion formation and improves the emulsion stability and emulsion durability
  • helps keep the body surface clean
  • Replenishes the lipids of the hair or of the top layers of the skin
  • approved for certified natural cosmetics

CAS-No.

  • 57-11-4,

EINECS/EILINCS-No.

  • 200-313-4,

Studies, literature and statements

Springer Lexikon Kosmetik, page 401

Higher saturated fatty acids, present in nearly all fats. Smoothing, retains oils.

Wikipedia

Stearic acid may be obtained from saponification of vegetable and animal oils and fats. Fat is boiled together with sodium hydroxide solution and thereby hydrolyzed in glycerol and the sodium salt of fatty acids (soap). These fatty acid salts are transformed back into fatty acids with mineral acid. Since fats usually contain a mixture of different fatty acids, these must be time-consumingly separated by distillation or continue to be used as a mixture.

Product examples