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Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate

What Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate is & what it does

A gentle, amino-acid-derived emulsifier that builds mild, skin-friendly creams and conditions the surface. It suits sensitive-skin formulas.

What is Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate and what does it do in sunscreen?

Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate is a gentle, amino-acid-derived emulsifier that blends the oil and water phases of a formula into a stable cream. Built from glutamic acid (an amino acid) joined to a stearic fatty chain, it tends to feel mild and conditions the skin surface, which is why it is popular in sensitive-skin formulas. It does the structural job of holding a sunscreen together rather than adding protection.

Is Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate safe?

Yes. It is a mild, well-tolerated emulsifier made from naturally occurring building blocks, an amino acid and a fatty acid, and it is often specifically chosen for gentle, sensitive-skin products. It works on the surface to blend oil and water, and irritation is uncommon.

Does Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate clog pores?

Generally no. It is used in small amounts as a gentle emulsifier rather than as a heavy oil or wax, so it is treated as low on the comedogenicity scale and is not a notable pore-clogging flag. If a product is breaking you out, the richer emollients elsewhere in the formula are the more likely cause.

Is Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate fungal-acne safe?

It is a potential trigger, so people who specifically manage fungal acne may prefer to avoid it. The Malassezia yeast behind fungal acne can use the fatty (stearoyl) part of this emulsifier, which puts it on fungal-acne avoid lists. This is one specific concern for fungal-acne-prone skin and not a general safety issue: for everyone else, it is a mild, skin-friendly ingredient.

What else is Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate called on an ingredient list?

Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate is the INCI name printed on the label, and it is the form you will normally see. It is the sodium salt of stearoyl glutamic acid, so you may occasionally see it described that way in technical documents. It usually sits in the middle of the list among the other emulsifiers.

Sunscreens with Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate

We rate 777 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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