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Sucrose Tristearate

What Sucrose Tristearate is & what it does

Sucrose Tristearate is a sugar ester made by combining sucrose with three units of stearic acid, a fatty acid. In skincare and sunscreen products it works as a nonionic emulsifier and skin conditioning agent that helps unite oil and water phases. A notable property is its mild, sugar-derived nature, which makes it popular in gentle, plant-based emulsions.

What does Sucrose Tristearate do in skincare?

Sucrose Tristearate works mainly as a nonionic emulsifier and skin conditioning agent. It helps unite oil and water phases into a stable cream or lotion and can leave a soft feel. It is popular in gentle, plant-based emulsion systems.

Is Sucrose Tristearate natural or synthetic?

It is best described as a processed ingredient from natural building blocks. It is made by combining sucrose, a sugar, with stearic acid, a fatty acid that can come from plant oils. The finished sugar ester is synthesized from these naturally sourced parts.

Is Sucrose Tristearate comedogenic?

Sugar esters of this type are generally seen as mild and are not commonly flagged as strongly comedogenic. It is used at functional levels as an emulsifier rather than a heavy occlusive oil. Individual skin varies, so very acne-prone users may wish to observe how their skin responds.

Sunscreens with Sucrose Tristearate

We rate 17 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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