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Stearic

What Stearic is & what it does

Stearic, listed here as shorthand for stearic acid, is a long-chain saturated fatty acid found in many animal and vegetable fats. In cosmetics it functions as an emulsifier, thickener, and emollient, helping bind oil and water phases and giving creams body and a stable, smooth texture. It is a workhorse structuring ingredient in lotions and cleansers. It is not a UV filter.

What is Stearic (stearic acid)?

Listed as shorthand for stearic acid, it is a long-chain saturated fatty acid found in many animal and vegetable fats. It is a common structuring ingredient in creams and cleansers.

What does stearic acid do in skincare?

It works as an emulsifier, thickener, and emollient, helping bind oil and water and giving lotions body and a stable, smooth texture. It is not a UV filter.

Is stearic acid safe?

It is a long-established cosmetic ingredient generally considered safe and well tolerated, with no specific concern listed here. It is widely used in everyday skincare.

Sunscreens with Stearic

We rate 3 sunscreens that contain it:

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