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Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate

What Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate is & what it does

A gentle, plant-derived emulsifier that creates mild, stable creams with a smooth feel. It is well suited to sensitive skin.

What is Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate and what does it do in sunscreen?

It is a gentle, plant-derived emulsifier. Its job is to blend the oil phase and the water phase into a single stable cream, which in a sunscreen helps keep the UV filters evenly dispersed so protection is uniform. It also lends a smooth, light feel and is a common choice for mild, sensitive-skin formulas.

Is Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate safe?

Yes, for general cosmetic use. It is a mild emulsifier built from glycerin, glucose, and stearic acid, all familiar and well-tolerated cosmetic building blocks, and it is used at low levels in the formula. Most people, including those with sensitive skin, use it without trouble.

Does Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate clog pores?

Generally no. We carry no comedogenic flag for it, so it is treated as generally low risk for clogging pores. It works as an emulsifier at small amounts rather than as a heavy oil or wax, so it is an unlikely cause of breakouts.

Is Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate fungal-acne safe?

Not entirely, if you are prone to fungal acne. It carries a fatty (stearate) part that the malassezia yeast behind fungal acne can potentially use, so people managing that specific concern may prefer to avoid it. This is one narrow skin issue, not a general safety problem: for everyone else the ingredient is harmless and well tolerated.

Is Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate vegan?

Usually, yes. It is built from plant-derived raw materials such as glycerin, glucose, and stearic acid sourced from vegetable oils, with no animal-derived components in the typical grades. The molecule itself is made in a lab from those plant building blocks rather than occurring in nature.

Sunscreens with Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate

We rate 226 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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