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Glyceryl Stearate Citrate

What Glyceryl Stearate Citrate is & what it does

A gentle, plant-derived co-emulsifier and emollient that helps blend oil and water while conditioning skin. It supports a stable, creamy texture.

What is Glyceryl Stearate Citrate and what does it do in sunscreen?

Glyceryl Stearate Citrate is a gentle, plant-derived emulsifier and emollient. Its job is to blend the oil and water phases of a sunscreen into one smooth, stable cream so the UV filters stay evenly dispersed. It also conditions the skin surface, giving the formula a soft, creamy feel.

Is Glyceryl Stearate Citrate safe?

Yes. It is a mild, widely used emulsifier made from glycerin, stearic acid, and citric acid, all common and well-tolerated cosmetic building blocks. It is used at low levels in the oil-and-water structure of a cream and is considered non-irritating for most people.

Does Glyceryl Stearate Citrate clog pores?

Generally no. It is not flagged as comedogenic in our data and works as a structural emulsifier rather than a heavy oil or wax sitting on the skin. If a formula is breaking you out, the richer emollients and oils elsewhere in it are far more likely the cause.

Is Glyceryl Stearate Citrate fungal-acne safe?

Mostly, with one caveat. It is a fatty ester, and the malassezia yeast behind fungal acne can in principle use its fatty part, so people actively managing fungal acne may choose to avoid it. For everyone else it is harmless. This is one specific skin concern, not a general safety issue.

Is Glyceryl Stearate Citrate vegan or synthetic?

It is typically plant-derived and synthesized in a lab from glycerin, stearic acid, and citric acid. The stearic acid can come from vegetable or animal sources, so it is usually but not always vegan. The finished emulsifier itself does not occur ready-made in nature.

Sunscreens with Glyceryl Stearate Citrate

We rate 266 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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