Stearyl Stearate
What Stearyl Stearate is & what it does
Stearyl Stearate is the wax ester of stearyl alcohol and stearic acid. In skincare and sunscreen formulas it acts as an emollient, thickener, and texture enhancer, adding body and a smooth, cushiony feel. A notable property is its wax-like character, which helps stabilize emulsions and improve the spreadability of the finished product.
What does Stearyl Stearate do in skincare?
Stearyl Stearate is a wax ester used as an emollient, thickener, and texture enhancer. It adds body and a smooth, cushiony feel and helps stabilize emulsions. In sunscreens it improves spreadability and the overall texture of the formula.
Does Stearyl Stearate clog pores?
Stearyl Stearate is a heavier wax-type ester, and richer waxes can feel occlusive on some skin. There is no strong universal claim defining its pore-clogging level at typical use rates. If you are acne-prone, patch testing the finished product is a sensible step.
Is Stearyl Stearate vegan?
Stearyl Stearate is made from stearyl alcohol and stearic acid, which can be sourced from plant or animal fats. When derived from vegetable sources it can be suitable for vegan formulas. Check with the brand, since stearic materials may have different origins.
Sunscreens with Stearyl Stearate
We rate 8 sunscreens that contain it:
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Typology L53 - SPF 50 Invisible Sun Stick Astaxanthin + Karanja Oil
92/100
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Avene Sun Stick Spf 50+
75/100
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Quench botanics Birch Please Intense Hydrofresh Daily Moisturizer (with SPF 40+ Pa+++)
69/100
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Elmiplant Hyaluronic 3D Day Cream SPF 15
68/100
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Woolworths Sunscreen SPF 50+ Everyday Lotion
64/100
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Elmiplant Hyaluronic Gold SPF 10
62/100
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Jafra Gold Dynamics Skin Boosting Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 15
60/100
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Marcelle Multi-Defense Cream SPF 15
49/100