Waxes, polymers and texture
Glyceryl Stearate
Glyceryl stearate is made by joining glycerin with stearic acid, a fatty acid. It is one of the most common emulsifiers in creams and lotions.
- On a list as
- Glyceryl Stearate
- What it does
- Emulsifier and emollient
- Where it comes from
- Glycerin and stearic acid, from plant or animal fat
- Vegan?
- Depends on the source
Why it’s in a formula
It keeps a cream's oil and water from separating and leaves skin feeling soft rather than greasy.
- Its stearic acid can come from vegetable or animal fat, and a list doesn't say which.
Where you’ll find it at Divina
Read from each piece’s published ingredient list. 7 pieces.
Le Teint Nu
Tinted BB Veil — 30ml
$68
Listed as Glyceryl Stearate
Cruelty-free; vegan status not confirmed
Questions
Is glyceryl stearate vegan?
Usually, since most stearic acid is made from vegetable fats, but it can come from animal fat and a list won't tell you.
Is glyceryl stearate safe?
It is mild, widely used and rarely irritating.
Is glyceryl stearate the same as stearic acid?
No, but they are related: glyceryl stearate is made by joining stearic acid to glycerin. It works as an emulsifier, holding oil and water together; stearic acid on its own mainly thickens.
How we know: every ingredient list on this site is the manufacturer’s own, read piece by piece and shade by shade, and the pieces above are worked out from those lists each time the site is built. Ingredient names and functions follow the EU’s CosIng database. This page describes cosmetic ingredients; it isn’t medical advice.
More in “Waxes, polymers and texture”