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Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate

What Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate is & what it does

A modified starch powder that absorbs oil and gives a soft, dry, powdery finish. It reduces greasiness and improves the feel of richer formulas.

What is Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate and what does it do in sunscreen?

Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate is a modified starch powder used to improve a formula's feel. It absorbs oil and sebum and leaves a soft, dry, powdery finish, which cuts greasiness and shine. In a sunscreen it is often added to richer or higher-SPF creams to make them feel lighter and more matte on the skin.

Is Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate safe?

Yes. It is a starch-based powder that has been reviewed as safe for use in cosmetics and works on the surface of the skin to absorb oil. It is well tolerated and not a common irritant. Despite the name, it is a starch derivative, not a metal salt deposited on the skin.

Does Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate clog pores?

Generally no. It is an oil-absorbing powder used to make formulas feel lighter and less greasy, which is the opposite of the heavy oils and waxes that tend to clog pores. It is not one of the classic pore-clogging ingredients, and is often found in mattifying products aimed at oily skin.

Does Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate contain aluminium like an antiperspirant?

Not in the same way. Here the aluminium is bound into a modified starch that acts as an oil-absorbing, mattifying powder, and it is not the soluble aluminium salt used in antiperspirants to block sweat. Its job in a sunscreen is purely about texture and a dry, powdery finish.

What else is Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate called?

On a label it appears under its INCI name, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate (sometimes spelled Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate). It is essentially a modified starch, often described simply as an oil-absorbing or mattifying powder. There is no common short trade name people search for.

Sunscreens with Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate

We rate 444 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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