ALUMINUM STEARATES
Aluminum Stearates are salts made by combining aluminum with stearic acid, a long-chain fatty acid. The name covers, in particular, aluminum distearate and aluminum tristearate, so it does not identify one single material with one fixed proportion of stearic acid.
ALUMINUM STEARATES: what it is
Aluminum Stearates are salts made by combining aluminum with stearic acid, a long-chain fatty acid. The name covers, in particular, aluminum distearate and aluminum tristearate, so it does not identify one single material with one fixed proportion of stearic acid.
Stearic acid may come from plant or animal feedstocks, but an ingredient list does not disclose which feedstock was used. What sets these stearates apart from an oil or free stearic acid is the aluminum component: it gives the material a more waxy, solid character, which is useful when a formula needs body or a less transparent finish.
ALUMINUM STEARATES: what it does in cosmetics
In cosmetics, Aluminum Stearates help thicken and keep a blend of water and oily ingredients more even. In practical terms, they can give creams, sticks, and makeup more body, make a base look less see-through, and support a softer feel as the product is spread; this does not mean they treat the skin.
Because the material is poorly soluble in water, it can also help powders and similar preparations resist caking. Its value is mainly in a product's texture, opacity, and physical stability, not as an isolated action against acne, wrinkles, dark spots, or any other skin condition.
ALUMINUM STEARATES: conditions and care
The available safety assessment for aluminum stearate and aluminum tristearate applies to the uses and concentrations assessed in formulations that are not irritating or sensitizing.
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
