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The Stearate salts, including Lithium Stearate, Aluminum Distearate, Aluminum Stearate, Aluminum Tristearate, Ammonium Stearate, Calcium Stearate, Magnesium Stearate, Potassium Stearate, Sodium Stearate, and Zinc Stearate are fine, white powders with a slight fatty odor. In cosmetics and personal care products, Stearate salts are used mainly in the formulation of makeup products such as eyeliner, eyeshadow, mascara, lipsticks, blushers, face powders and foundations. They are as well used in fragrances, deodorants, and hair and pare intendance products.

Why is it used in cosmetics and personal care products?

The Stearate salts are generally used for their lubricating backdrop. They likewise help to keep emulsions from separating into their oil and liquid components. The Stearate salts increase the thickness of the lipid (oil) portion of cosmetics and personal care products and reduce the clear or transparent appearance of finished products.

Scientific Facts:

The commercial stearic acrid from which the Stearate salts are manufactured is really a mixture of monocarboxylic acids obtained from animal and/or vegetable sources.

Safety Information:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes Magnesium and Zinc Stearate on its listing of substances considered Mostly Recognized Every bit Prophylactic (GRAS) for directly addition to nutrient. Salts of fatty acids (Aluminum, Calcium, Potassium and Sodium Stearate) are besides permitted for direct addition to food. The FDA has also canonical suitable grades of fatty acids and their aluminum, ammonium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and zinc salts as indirect nutrient additives. The prophylactic of the Stearate salts has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Skillful Panel. The CIR Expert Console evaluated the scientific data and concluded that Lithium Stearate, Aluminum Distearate, Aluminum Stearate, Aluminum Tristearate, Ammonium Stearate, Calcium Stearate, Magnesium Stearate, Potassium Stearate, Sodium Stearate and Zinc Stearate were condom for use in cosmetics and personal care products. In 2001, as part of the scheduled re-evaluation of ingredients, the CIR Proficient Panel considered available new data on the Stearate compounds and reaffirmed the above conclusion.

More safety Data:

CIR Prophylactic Review: The CIR Expert Panel reviewed acute oral studies indicating that the Stearate salts were practically nontoxic, and had a low potential for acute dermal toxicity. Skin irritation studies demonstrated that Stearates were only minimal to slight irritants at loftier concentrations. Pharmaceutical vehicles containing v.five% Magnesium Stearate were neither teratogenic nor mutagenic. Seven out of 20 human being volunteers exhibited minimal to mild skin erythema when tested with an aqueous solution of 1.5% Ammonium Stearate.

Similar results were obtained with Sodium Stearate at 0.5%. In a 21-day patch test with 10 subjects, an aqueous formulation containing 0.i-0.25% Sodium Stearate caused minimal peel irritation. No sensitization was reported in 100 subjects tested with the same formulation. The CIR Expert Panel concluded that on the basis of the bachelor information presented in the study that the Stearate salts were safe as cosmetic ingredients.

Link to FDA Code of Federal Regulations for the Stearate salts

  • Magnesium Stearate
  • Zinc Stearate
  • Salts of Fat Acids

Lithium Stearate, Ammonium Stearate, Potassium Stearate and Sodium Stearate may exist used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Directive of the European union. Aluminum, Calcium, Magnesium, and Zinc Stearates may be used every bit coloring agents in all cosmetics and personal care products (see Addendum IV). If the stearic acid apply to make these ingredients is derived from animal sources, it must comply with European Matrimony animal by-products regulations.

EU Cosmetic Regulation

More Scientific Information:

The commercial course of stearic acid used to produce the Stearate salts contains fat acids that range from 12 carbon atoms (C12, lauric) to C22 (behenic) and the major components are C18 (stearic) and C16 (palmitic) acids. In cosmetics and personal intendance products, the Stearate salts are used as emulsion stabilizers, viscosity increasing agents (nonaqueous), and opacifying agents. The water-insoluble metallic stearates are also water repellant and adhesive and have good "covering" properties.